Philippines -- Another rail-based transport woe faced by the public

by jayr_patron | July 14, 2008 at 03:33 am

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This is in accession to report Runaway oil prices put strain on Manila's (abysmal) public transport system.

Paranaque City, Philippines -- GMA7 News earlier reported that coaches of the Philippine National Railway (PNR) have been languishing in the PNR garage or more than two weeks now--adding public discomfort over transportation to and from Metro Manila.

The reason: rampant pilferation of rail parts, according to news reporter, Mark Salazar.

For commuters living in the fringes of the capital region, the state-run train service provides the cheapest mode of tansportation, with an average of 20php (.45cents) to cover the 50-kilometer journey from Calamba, Laguna in the south, to Manila.

The PNR rail system runs for a total 745 kilometers from end to end, covering most of the western and southern portions of Luzon island.

The TV news report showed policemen taking a "videoke" break as robbers partake on rail parts a few meters away.

Personal -- The only memory I have of riding this train was 20 years ago when I was in preparatory. Convenient and cheap, but time (and mismanagement) had left the train system to a state of derelict over the years. The Philippine government has entered in to a multi-billion doller deal with China to rehabilitate the rail system as part of the current administrations strong republic transit system.

Photo from Wikipedia.org