Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
It has been confirmed that missing or stolen railway parts have caused the derailment of one of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) trains on April 29.
Around 50 passengers sustained minor injuries after a train got derailed between the EDSA and Nichols stations of the PNR.
The PNR suspended its operations to give way to repairs. Operations are expected to resume in June, PNR general manager Joseph Allan Dilay told dzMM.
READ: Missing rail parts eyed in PNR train derailment
Dilay said they have received the results of the independent investigation performed by TUV Rheinland, a Germany-based provider of certification services.
The group saw “missing or stolen track components” as the “most probable cause of derailment.”
“Ang mismo pong nanakaw ay ‘yung mismong bakal na nagdudugtong sa riles,” Dilay explained.
The “fishplate” joint is a piece of steel used to connect the pieces of the railway. According to Dilay, it has been common practice in PNR to connect rails by cutting off a separate rail into smaller pieces.
“Pinagdudugtong dugtong na lang, ‘yun ho ang practice noon ng PNR, kumbaga pinagkakasya na lamang ang budget, so ‘yung mga riles ay putol putol nga, nanakaw rin o nawala ‘yung mga maiiksing riles,” he added.
Although the report only covers the April 29 derailment in Nichols area, TUV Rheinland is also tasked to conduct an investigation and assessment of the whole PNR railway system.
Now that additional rail pieces have arrived, Dilay said they have started repairing the rails and replacing missing parts.
“Day and night, hinahanap po namin ang may mga missing bolts, joints at angle bars. Ngayon, pinapalitan na po ang mga maiikling riles,” he said.
Upon recommendation by TUV Rheinland, PNR has started removing all supplemental rails and replaced them with longer rails to prevent theft.
“Dapat iwelding na ‘yung mga riles, lalo na po doon sa prone sa vandalism. ‘Yun na ho ang gagawin namin, iwewelding na, wala na sigurong makakapagnakaw ng mahabang riles, mabigat,” Dilay said.
In order to maintain the quality of the rails, Dilay said they will form a team that will inspect the rails before daily trips.
“Every day, bago mag-umpisa ang operation, mayroon talagang team na mag-iinspect sa line, at magsasabing ‘Okay, kumpleto, pwede nang gamitin,'” he added.
Dilay also appealed to local government units and barangays within the vicinity of the railway to help PNR in maintaining the railway.
”Kami ay nananawagan sa mga LGU o barangay na karatig noong PNR railway na sana po kami ay tulungan mag-secure sa ating riles, at doon po sa ating mga constituent na para po makaiwas din sa aksidente,” he added.
Dilay said once the repairs are finished, they are planning to resume PNR operations soon.
“Kung ma-resume, hanggang Alabang, dahil nandoon ang bulk ng pasahero.”
Text: Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBNnews.com
Photo: Zhander Cayabyab, dzMM (Twitter)
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
