DOTC suspends PNR's Bicol Express after derailing incident

(Updated 2:41 p.m.) The government has indefinitely suspended the operations of the Philippine National Railways' Bicol Express service until its safety can be ensured after one of its trains was derailed in Quezon province over the weekend, injuring nine passengers.   "Unfortunately, itong Undas, nais nating sabihin sa ating mga mamamayan na babyahe via Bicol Express na wala po yang service na ‘yan," Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said Monday in an interview with GMA News Online editor in chief and News To Go anchor Howie Severino.   "Roughly one month ang kailangan para ma-lift ang train na ito, mag-repair ng bridge at ayusin ang riles," he added.   The accident, which damaged four of the train's cars, occurred at Camda village in Sariaya town last Friday, a day after a tropical storm “Ofel” caused heavy rains in some parts of Luzon. At the time of the incident, Camda village was flooded. Abaya said he ordered the PNR officials to secure the train so that it will not fall into the river.   "First of all, ang bilin ko dyan ay siguraduhin na ang tren ay hindi babagsak sa ilog, so may mga kable na silang inilagay dyan. May crane ang PNR para buhatin ang mga train at mailagay sa lupa na safe," he said.   He also asked for an initial investigation report and photographs to determine what really happened.   "Sinabi ko kaagad na magpadala ng initial investigation report, ‘yung final hayaang sumunod na lamang but mahalaga na magpadala mg pictures dahil limited yung nakikita natin," said Abaya.   To prevent a similar accident from happening, Abaya gave new instructions regarding train operations during storms.   He said in the past, PNR trains are automatically prevented from running whenever storm signal number 2 is raised, and depended on the discretion of engineers when storm signal number 1 is up.   "Sabi ko kalimutan na natin ‘yan, sa tingin ko mag-err tayo on safety katulad din sa dagat, pag storm signal number 1, maski araw pa ang nakikita nyo dyan, pag itinaas na wala nang babiyahe," Abaya said.   He added they are also studying how they can use the precipitation data from PAGASA.   "Pag habagat ang dumating, walang storm signal pero malakas ang ulan and then dapat may sistema rin d’un, may malinaw na polisiya para standard at malinaw yung decision-making kaysa sa binibigay sa discretion ng mga nasa ibaba (engineers) lamang," he said. Abaya also ordered the PNR to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the use of geo-hazard maps.   "Kunin natin yung detalye para itong mga engineers in charge of the station ay naa-appreciate ang hazard map na ito. Alam nila ‘yung threat areas at mabibigyang pansin ‘yung real threat areas for landslides at scourging of riverbanks," he said.  Injured in the incident were: 

• Joan Yalung, 30
• Renelee Francisco, 30
• Enamanee Monter
• Mark Agdeppa
• Arminda Granada
• Jesus Sevilla
• Pelomena Gomez
• Pantallon San Pedro
• Ybet Palido

  — with Amita O. Legaspi/RSJ/KBK, GMA News