MRT queue now longer

IT was already past 9 a.m. yesterday but the queue at the MRT line at its station in North Triangle still stretched beyond one block from both sides. Dozens of would-be train commuters who knew better than to join the long line were now frantically trying to flag taxis in front of the station; the entrance to the turnstiles was full of harried passengers vigorously fanning themselves and undoubtedly cursing under their breath the darned situation. This kind of hassle has long been the bane of the MRT, playing day in and day out and worsened by breakdowns (frequent) in the elevator service and the escalators (almost always). In fact, a now-yellowed poster at the elevator service cites the exact date the service was discontinued: three months ago to date. This scene at the start of the MRT station in North Edsa is replicated in its other stations: clutter, grime, service breakdowns. And they all point to the absence of the government there. And to think that a simple “caring touch” here and there in the MRT stations would do wonders for the government and even ensure positive feedbacks from the great mass of MRT commuters who have long been victims of the mess the MRT stations have become. What does the government have to do to make its presence felt in the MRT stations? We don’t think it needs that much to maintain the elevators so that people with disabilities (PWDs) or the elderly can use the MRT. The floors don’t have to be shiny and spotless; all they need is to be cleaned of candy wrappers carelessly thrown away by the unschooled or uncaring among us, and the dirt that clings to the thousands of sandals and shoes that trudge the MRT entrances. Also, all the government has to do is to install one or two electric fans to make more comfortable those using the escalators (when they are working) or the passageways in each of the stations so that the horde of MRT users can have a whiff of fresh air. The electric fans become extremely necessary when the rains come and the humidity becomes unbearable. We believe the government only needs to dig a bit into the multibillion-peso conditional cash-transfer (CCT) funds for, say, P10 million to keep the MRT stations, if not the trains, well maintained. How about it, guys? Globe unveils new product Speaking of service, Globe Telecom is raising the ante in its product offering with a new lineup of broadband offering for consumers that offer superior and customizable speeds and the best value-for-money packages in the market today. With its Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), 4G WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and GPON (Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network)—the telco’s flagship brand Tattoo@Home provide stable and flexible connections that give families the best Internet experience at home, from parents working or paying bills online, young adults downloading their favorite songs or movies to kids and teens doing research and expressing themselves in multiple ways online. The Tattoo@Home product lineup is customizable based on the subscribers’ unique needs. For instance, Tattoo@Home Plan 1099, a DSL and landline bundle, runs of speeds of up to 1 Mbps. Plus, customers get free NDD calls forever (to Globelines and Globe DUO subscribers) and one month of speed boost for free. On the other hand, Tattoo@Home Plan 1299 runs on speeds of up to 2 Mbps and subscribers get free NDD calls forever (to Globelines and Globe DUO subscribers), one month of speed boost and a free Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) router. “Our Tattoo@Home offers are the most superior in the market, with compelling freebies bundled with the broadband service. Plus, these plans are unique because customers can customize these via optional speed boost add-ons that provide an additional 1 Mbps of speed during certain times of the day,” said Jurist Gamban, head of Tattoo@Home Broadband. Launching its greatest value for money and high-speed broadband plans for the whole family, Tattoo@Home also introduced Ford Supermodel of the World 2011 Danica Flores Magpantay as its newest brand ambassador. The new product offering provides a glimpse of the aggressive expansion Globe is currently undertaking on its network infrastructure. The company was the first to launch its 4G WiMAX network and GPON (direct fiber-optic cable) Internet service in the Philippines. Tattoo@Home is also the first to launch speed boost add-ons that allows customers faster downloads of their choosing resulting in the growth of its subscriber base by 17 percent year-on-year as of the third quarter of 2011, with close to 300,000 subscribers.