2 passengers demand assistance from govt after MRT crash

Two of the passengers injured when a Metro Rail Transit (MRT) train rammed through a steel barricade at the Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City Wednesday afternoon are seeking government assistance, a television report said Friday.

In an interview with GMA News TV's “News To Go,” passenger Gina Mendoza, who sustained an arm fracture from the incident, said that apart from covering their hospital expenses, the government must also provide additional financial assistance to the passengers who sustained injuries as the incident may have affected their work and have caused them other disadvantages.

 

“One to two months nakaganito ako (showing her bandaged arm). Paano yung online business ko, paano ko gagawin ngayon, ni hindi ako makasulat, hindi ako makapag-computer, paano ako magde-deliver? E hindi ko pa nga kaya maigalaw yung arm ko,” Mendoza said.

 

Mendoza is running an online business. She said she is worried the therapy of her child who has special needs might be affected for the time that she will have no income.

 

According to the report, Mendoza's condition will be observed by doctors within one to two months, after which, it will be decided whether an operation is needed.

 

Meanwhile, another passenger, 61-year-old Remigno Dasalla, said he was just glad to have survived the incident, but said assistance from the government is very much welcome.

 

“Pag salpok dun, ang lakas, hiwa-hiwalay yung mga railings, tanggal-tanggal. Tapos lumusot ako, sa sahig ako nahiga tapos umikot katawan ko, humataw yung ulo ko,” Dasalla recalled.

 

Dasalla obtained head injuries from the crash, and until Thursday afternoon, was still under close observation as he sustained cerebral concussion.

 

A result of the computerized tomography scan (CT scan) done on Dasalla, however, revealed that the injuries were not serious  and he is now out of danger.

 

Meanwhile, MRT spokesperson Atty. Hernando Cabrera said they are open on giving additional assistance to some of the injured passengers.

“Mga medical expenses, immediate expenses sinagot na natin lahat yan, anytime pwede silang magtext sa'kin magsabi sila sa amin kung ano pa po ang maitutulong namin sakanila,” Cabrera said in the same report. — Elizabeth Marcelo/RSJ, GMA News