Criminal neglect
Criminal neglect
Updated 10:41pm (Mla time) Nov 15, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A14 of the November 16, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
THE DERAILMENT of a Philippine National Railways train last Saturday in which at least six people were killed and 158 injured brings up five issues and problems.
The first is the criminal negligence of some people involved in railway operations, in particular, and of those in the transport industry in general.
The second (which is related to the first) is the low regard of Filipinos for human life.
The third is the lack of a security system to keep people off the railroad tracks for their own safety and to safeguard the railways from malicious mischief, theft and sabotage.
The fourth is the culture of impunity and forgetfulness that allows people responsible for the loss of scores, if not hundreds or thousands of human lives, to get off scot-free, without even so much as a slap on the wrist.
The fifth is the criminal neglect of our transport infrastructure and facilities and the crying need for the rehabilitation and modernization of the railway system.
Again, it appears that gross negligence was one of the major causes of the railroad accident in Padre Burgos, Quezon, last Saturday. The train engineer must have known that the train was negotiating a curve and going over slippery rails. And yet he drove the train at 70 kilometers per hour when he had been told to slow down to 20 kph. The engineer, after due hearing, should be made to answer to the full extent of the law for the death of six people and injuries to 158.
The accident again underscores the Filipinos' low regard for human life. There is no great outrage over the negligence of the train engineer and the other people operating the train. After the initial press statements, the accident is going to be forgotten. One big instance of the people's forgetfulness is the case of the sinking of the MV Doña Paz, the world's biggest maritime disaster, in which about 4,000 people died. Up to now justice has not been obtained for the 4,000 dead.
Because of the lack of public outrage, the lack of interest in pursuing cases, and the general apathy of the riding public, the culture of impunity has not been shattered. There is no effort to insure the safety of the people who use public transport. It's all "Bahala na" [Come what may] when the odds of accidents happening can be reduced to a minimum if only higher standards were applied in the operation of public transport facilities.
The Padre Burgos accident also underscores the lack of a security system for the railways. One theory advanced to explain the accident is that parts of the railroad tracks had been stolen by thieves. The lack of a security system cuts two ways: it leaves the railroad open to theft and sabotage and it endangers the lives of people who purposely or unconsciously stray into the tracks of oncoming trains. One recent example of the second is the accidental killing of Carlos "Caloy" Abrera who was hit by a train while he was shopping for plants near the railroad tracks.
The railways are perhaps the most neglected sector of our transport industry. The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is using rolling stock that is more than half a century old. The railroad tracks are poorly maintained. The wagons are decrepit and perhaps except for the air-conditioned coaches, are filthy and have unsanitary and unsightly toilets.
One bright piece of news is the recent announcement about the start of the North Railways project that would modernize the railways system from Manila to Malolos, Bulacan, and ultimately, to San Fernando, La Union. The modernization project will restore the North Rail system to its grandeur before World War II, when it was the preferred way to go to points north such as Baguio and San Fernando.
The rehabilitation of the accident-prone South Line of the PNR should also follow. In May the government was reported to have tapped South Korea's lending institutions for a $50-million, long-term loan that would cover part of the P36-billion rehabilitation project. We hope the project will start soon, probably simultaneously with the rehabilitation of the North Rail, so that ultimately the greater part of Luzon would be covered by a modern railway system.
The railways can help promote the social and economic development of the countryside by making possible the fast and efficient movement of people, farm produce and manufactured goods at a relatively low cost. But all these years the development of the railway system has been forgotten and it is only now that some interest has again been expressed. The Padre Burgos accident should help prod the authorities to accelerate the rehabilitation and modernization of the Luzon railways and the installation of railway systems in Mindanao, Panay and other big islands.
Updated 10:41pm (Mla time) Nov 15, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A14 of the November 16, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
THE DERAILMENT of a Philippine National Railways train last Saturday in which at least six people were killed and 158 injured brings up five issues and problems.
The first is the criminal negligence of some people involved in railway operations, in particular, and of those in the transport industry in general.
The second (which is related to the first) is the low regard of Filipinos for human life.
The third is the lack of a security system to keep people off the railroad tracks for their own safety and to safeguard the railways from malicious mischief, theft and sabotage.
The fourth is the culture of impunity and forgetfulness that allows people responsible for the loss of scores, if not hundreds or thousands of human lives, to get off scot-free, without even so much as a slap on the wrist.
The fifth is the criminal neglect of our transport infrastructure and facilities and the crying need for the rehabilitation and modernization of the railway system.
Again, it appears that gross negligence was one of the major causes of the railroad accident in Padre Burgos, Quezon, last Saturday. The train engineer must have known that the train was negotiating a curve and going over slippery rails. And yet he drove the train at 70 kilometers per hour when he had been told to slow down to 20 kph. The engineer, after due hearing, should be made to answer to the full extent of the law for the death of six people and injuries to 158.
The accident again underscores the Filipinos' low regard for human life. There is no great outrage over the negligence of the train engineer and the other people operating the train. After the initial press statements, the accident is going to be forgotten. One big instance of the people's forgetfulness is the case of the sinking of the MV Doña Paz, the world's biggest maritime disaster, in which about 4,000 people died. Up to now justice has not been obtained for the 4,000 dead.
Because of the lack of public outrage, the lack of interest in pursuing cases, and the general apathy of the riding public, the culture of impunity has not been shattered. There is no effort to insure the safety of the people who use public transport. It's all "Bahala na" [Come what may] when the odds of accidents happening can be reduced to a minimum if only higher standards were applied in the operation of public transport facilities.
The Padre Burgos accident also underscores the lack of a security system for the railways. One theory advanced to explain the accident is that parts of the railroad tracks had been stolen by thieves. The lack of a security system cuts two ways: it leaves the railroad open to theft and sabotage and it endangers the lives of people who purposely or unconsciously stray into the tracks of oncoming trains. One recent example of the second is the accidental killing of Carlos "Caloy" Abrera who was hit by a train while he was shopping for plants near the railroad tracks.
The railways are perhaps the most neglected sector of our transport industry. The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is using rolling stock that is more than half a century old. The railroad tracks are poorly maintained. The wagons are decrepit and perhaps except for the air-conditioned coaches, are filthy and have unsanitary and unsightly toilets.
One bright piece of news is the recent announcement about the start of the North Railways project that would modernize the railways system from Manila to Malolos, Bulacan, and ultimately, to San Fernando, La Union. The modernization project will restore the North Rail system to its grandeur before World War II, when it was the preferred way to go to points north such as Baguio and San Fernando.
The rehabilitation of the accident-prone South Line of the PNR should also follow. In May the government was reported to have tapped South Korea's lending institutions for a $50-million, long-term loan that would cover part of the P36-billion rehabilitation project. We hope the project will start soon, probably simultaneously with the rehabilitation of the North Rail, so that ultimately the greater part of Luzon would be covered by a modern railway system.
The railways can help promote the social and economic development of the countryside by making possible the fast and efficient movement of people, farm produce and manufactured goods at a relatively low cost. But all these years the development of the railway system has been forgotten and it is only now that some interest has again been expressed. The Padre Burgos accident should help prod the authorities to accelerate the rehabilitation and modernization of the Luzon railways and the installation of railway systems in Mindanao, Panay and other big islands.
posted by Dante at 2:28 PM
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