Accessibility woes welcome MRT-3 commuters as faulty machines turn stations into “obstacle courses”

For senior citizens and PWDs, access to the platform often means a 108-step climb, highlighting the “human cost” of delayed infrastructure repairs.

Across several MRT-3 stations, commuters regularly encounter broken escalators, missing elevators, and long-delayed fixes that make daily travel harder than it should be.

For senior citizens and persons with disabilities, these failures turn basic access into a struggle, as out-of-service equipment forces long climbs and detours just to reach train platforms.

This system-wide problem is especially visible at Shaw Boulevard Station, where MRT-3 commuters are constantly forced to navigate broken machines, stalled upgrades, and basic access failures that punish those who rely on the system most. What should be a routine commute becomes a repeated test of endurance and patience.

Shaw Boulevard: The epicenter of dysfunction

Frustration has been building for years as what many commuters describe as a “daily obstacle course” shows no real signs of improvement. The southbound escalator at Building B has been malfunctioning since 2012, reportedly operating only a few months each year.

The service provider, Greenfield, has repeatedly cited the lack of spare parts sourced from overseas. While a replacement project began early last year, commuters say little has changed on the ground, with faulty equipment still shaping daily travel.

For senior citizens and PWDs, access to the platform often means a 108-step climb across multiple flights of stairs, underscoring how long-standing accessibility gaps remain unresolved.

The economic cost of “sardine-like” conditions

These conditions have been extensively documented by commuters themselves, including in an open letter addressed to the Department of Transportation by Rhoel Raymond Mendoza.

In his letter, Mendoza detailed the physical strain, lost time, and repeated detours commuters endure daily, calling attention to how prolonged equipment failures have turned basic mobility into a barrier rather than a service.

The ordeal begins long before a passenger even sees a train. Other reports in major stations like North Avenue and Taft Avenue say that queues often extend out of the station, made worse during peak hours. It is common for passengers to wait almost half an hour just to clear security and reach the turnstiles.

Inside the train coaches, commuters often describe the “sardine-like” conditions where overcrowding is the norm, paired with “technical glitches,” ranging from sudden emergency braking to air-conditioning failures.

Productivity loss

According to a recent report, Manila commuters lose 143 hours of their lives stuck in traffic, which barely covers 5 kilometers in 15 minutes of travel.

The breakdown carries real economic costs. Lost commuting hours reduce productivity, strain workers’ health, and discourage foot traffic for nearby businesses, while vulnerable commuters shoulder the heaviest burden.

Years of unresolved accessibility issues now raise broader questions about accountability and whether public transport upgrades are truly designed for the people who depend on them most.

A glimmer of policy shift?

In response to growing public outcry, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently announced the Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) guidelines in January 2026. This policy mandates:

1. Staff Training: Disability awareness and gender sensitivity for all railway personnel.
2. Designated Help Points: Wheelchair boarding assistance and clear audio-visual announcements.
3. Transition Plans: Existing operators must now prepare compliance plans to fix these “structural gaps.”

 

 

For senior citizens and PWDs, access to the platform often means a 108-step climb across multiple flights of stairs, underscoring how long-standing accessibility gaps remain unresolved.

 

 

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