MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has removed Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) General Manager Oscar Bongon from his post, cautioning other Department of Transportation (DOTr) officials against sluggish responses to public service issues.

Speaking on Radyo Pilipinas, Dizon clarified that Bongon’s dismissal was unrelated to his recent MRT-3 inspection but was instead due to delays in resolving problems—specifically, the prolonged repair of a broken escalator.

“If it could have been fixed on the same day it broke down at 10 a.m. on Saturday, why was it left unfixed until Tuesday?” Dizon said.

He also said in a PNA report that there is a need for immediate action on even minor issues, noting that any delay results in inconvenience for commuters.

“The President has repeatedly emphasized that public service should not sleep,” he said.

Dizon also issued a firm reminder to DOTr officials that inefficiency would not be tolerated.

“Our approach to work needs to change. We must act swiftly because even minor disruptions can cause significant inconvenience to the public,” he stressed.

As for Bongon’s successor, Dizon said the official announcement would come from Malacañang.

“Let’s wait for the Office of the President to release the appointment papers. While I can recommend someone, the final decision rests with the President,” he explained.

Longer MRT-3 operating Hours starting next week

In a related development, Dizon said MRT-3 operations could soon be extended in the evenings, with additional trains deployed during peak hours.

“By early next week, we hope to extend evening operations by an hour and add at least one more train,” he said.

He added that the move was based on commuter feedback gathered during his recent inspection of the train line. (PNA)