A Possible Solution To The MRT Problem

With the MRT trains failing frequently, why is the government in such a rush to build another MRT project from Quezon City to Bulacan? Shouldn't the government address the current situation and stabilize it first before beginning a new endeavor? Otherwise, you'll have another mess when the new MRT project starts failing after a few years of operations.

People want the current MRT fixed, but also want uninterrupted service. Sometimes, you have to shut the system down to overhaul a system. If a car breaks down, you have to use other means of transportation while the car is being repaired. But in a capital which is heavily reliant on the MRT for its commuters, shutting down this mode of transport might only happen if no trains are no longer available. And with 7 trains remaining in operation, that day might come sooner than expected.

Perhaps a long term solution to this problem is developing our own competency in train operations. I think U.P. Diliman tried doing this when they built a mini-MRT model on their campus, but I've yet to see a train going around the campus - perhaps because the line has not even come full circle yet. But if the premier university in the Philippines cannot do it, perhaps it should be done by schools and private institutions collectively. Bring the best and brightest minds from the academe, government, and private sector and build a Fellowship of the MRT (ala Fellowship of the Ring). And we might have some experts in the PNR and LRT systems that might also be able to lend a hand in this mess.

Develop local competency in building our own trains - because you can't fix what you don't know how to build. This will take a lot of time, perhaps decades, to achieve. But if we become experts in the train transport field, then maybe we can export our own train technology to other countries in the future. We should not continue relying on foreign countries for materials and spare parts to fix our problems. We could initially ask them for help in education, but we should learn to develop our own technology.

I've seen old steam locomotive trains still running in Japan up to this day. Those trains are decades old, but they have been reliably maintained. If Japan and other countries can do it, I think Filipinos can do it, too.