He has since recommended a replacement for the now-vacant position.
On Tuesday, March 18, Secretary for Transport Vince Dizon announced that he has relieved Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager Oscar Bongon.
According to the Dizon, in an interview with One PH’s ‘One Balita Pilipinas,’ he said that the decision to sack Bongon was due to an incident concerning one of the escalators at Taft Avenue station last March 8.
The faulty escalator suddenly stopped, leading to passengers falling down, injuring 10 people.
Sec. Dizon said that it was “unacceptable” that such malfunction was not immediately addressed, sharing that the maintenance only commenced days later, on March 11.
In addition to the incident, he also noted that a change in the leadership within the department’s attached agencies was also due.
“Tingin ko naman po, kailangan lang po talaga siguro dahil nga bago kami pumasok dito, kailangan… tingnan natin yung mga tao na consistent doon sa mindset na gusto ng ating Pangulo.“
Meanwhile, the secretary divulged that he has since submitted a name to President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. on who will become the next MRT-3 chief.
Although, he did not reveal any further, citing that he is leaving it up to the Office of the President to name Bongon’s replacement.
Dizon’s move comes a day after his inspection at Taft Avenue, Ayala, and Shaw Boulevard stations during the morning rush hour on Monday, March 17.
On the same day, he also instructed MRT-3 to extend the operating hour of the line, which he said could begin as early as “next week.”