As a part of the Filipino’s daily commute, the Metro Rail Transit’s congestion is already a given. The late arrival and departure is also something that commuters have gotten used to. But on Tuesday, August 7, passengers of the MRT did not expect to be showered by an indoor rain.
In a video uploaded by Giselle Tolosa, passengers are seen using their umbrellas to dodge the water pouring from the ceiling of the Line 3 of the MRT.
The uploader said that she rarely rides the MRT and was surprised at the situation.
“In the first place, it wasn’t raining outside. Bakit may tubig sa loob?” Tolosa told The Filipino Times.
According to her, this was not the first time she encountered a mishap on the train.
“The last time na nag MRT ako, tumirik naman sa Shaw,” she added.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) clarified that it was caused by the air-conditioning unit malfunction.
“The DOTr MRT-3 sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience brought to passengers by a leak from one MRT-3 airconditioning unit (ACU) yesterday afternoon,” said the DOTr in a statement.
According to the DOTr, the units should have been replaced two years ago as a part of the MRT overhaul.
While Tolosa poked fun at her video caption “More payong, more fun,” the clip quickly went viral and gained the disappointment of many commuters.
“Sana maayos na nila to. Bukod sa malakas na tagas, eh ang baho at dumi pa nung tubig na nalabas sa ceiling, na-experience ko na to. Sino ba naman gusto mabasa sa loob nyan? Natural marereklamo ang mga commuters. Tama lang na mag ingay para may aksyon,” said one comment.
Tolosa also lamented the current state of the public transportation system saying: “Nakakadismaya na may mga ganoong instance. What more pa kung rush hour iyon nangyari? And also, pwede may mga madisgrasya.”
The DOTr also promised to install new air-conditioning units starting this month.
