The MRT is a disaster that is waiting to happen. All it takes is one accident or mistake, and you’ll probably have one disaster that might equal or surpass the Wowowee Ultra stampede a year ago.

Take a look at this picture:

(Photo taken using Sony Ericsson P1i, image size reduced)

This scene at North Avenue Station (south bound) always happens during weekday morning rush hour. Picture was taken at around 8:05 AM. The inflow of people peaks between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM, and overflow happens due to a lot of factors. For me, the inefficiency of the MRT as a system is the main culprit. Most train systems operate on a time table, and they should operate like clock-work, otherwise the system will crumble. But that is not the topic of this post.

As I have said, this scenario will lead to a disaster; all it takes is one mistake or one accident. I had labeled four parts in this picture where disaster can happen:

1. Thank Bayani Fernando’s Gwapo project for this. The MMDA has raised EDSA’s sidewalks by several centimeters. So, imagine this number of people packed together, jostling in. Disaster can happen if one person trips because of the high sidewalk. With the pushing that happens, this scenario is the most probable.

2. After you have survived the MMDA sidewalk, half of the station entrance has two steps. Not as high as the MMDA sidewalk, someone can trip here, since at this point the jostling and the pushing is at its worst.

3. This is the most dangerous – a wayward vehicle. Multiple vehicle collision. Highly improbable. I hope.

4. At this point, you are about to enter the second set of stairs (there are three), and here is a bottleneck. Jostling and pushing is evident here, though not as bad as below. Still, just one person tripping, and it is a disaster.

There is actually one more point but I failed to take a picture. This point (pictured above) is at the station platform. Some people, in their eagerness to get in on the coming train, already stand near the very edge of the platform, despite the warnings blaring on the public address system. At rush hour, the platform can be jampacked. And when the train arrives, people are again jostling and pushing to get in. Trust me, if you are near the edge of the platform and the coach door opens, you don’t even have to take a step to get in.

Disaster almost happened one time when one lady tripped as she was getting in. Good thing no one’s got the worst out of it. But it did bring home the point (at least to me) that the MRT is just seconds from disaster (and yes, that is a show at National Geographic). And hopefully, there will never be an episode of that show that will feature the MRT.

The Fortress by the Pasig is still adamant about the National Broadband Network-ZTE deal: Malacañang will not cancel NBN deal with ZTE. Now it issues a gag order on the deal, and it refuses to open the contract to public scrutiny. If the contract/deal is above-board, why don’t they show it to the Senate?

And now, talks of impeaching Benjamin Abalos Sr., chair of Comelec and said to be the facilitator of the questionable deal swirls around, with the House minority preparing to file an impeachment complaint in 2-4 weeks time. But as always, they are slow: the ever-nuisance Oliver Lozano already has an impeachment complaint ready. Abalos must be smiling in relief now.

Realistically, you cannot impeach Abalos; with the current House composition, transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate is like wishing for the national debt to be forgiven. What needs to be done is to force him to resign; however, the chances of success are slim, what with Abalos’ character. If he had delicadeza and honor at all, he would have turned down the appointment.

Still, forcing him to resign is still a viable option. Maybe I should call on the mob called the blogosphere? Yes, I am kidding on the previous statement, but let us consider another shame campaign. I don’t care what you say about Abalos, I don’t care at all.

Why should he resign?

1. The botched poll automation. The Supreme Court ordered the Mega Pacific automation deal scrapped, and it had even ordered the Ombudsman to file cases against Comelec officials. The Ombudsman, not as independent as we want it to be, passively defies the High Court. If Abalos is a honorable man, he should have resigned at this point. But no.

2. The Hello Garci scandal. Nuff said.

3. The 2007 elections. Not content with the almost-botched 2004 special operations, this year’s spec-ops were more open, the cheating was obvious and done in the open. Yet, he had the audacity to say everything went ok?

4. The ZTE deal. Here is the pinnacle of Abalos’ shameful acts. He admitted to everything except f*ck*ng with the ZTE officials! Going to trips to China on ZTE’s expense? Check. Playing golf with ZTE officials? Check. Talking to ZTE officials? Check. The question now is: WHY?

Yes, I am calling for his resignation. Yes, I am calling for his impeachment. How about you? If you want corruption to stop, you have to put your foot down. Make a stand. Start by calling for his resignation and/or impeachment. Start by blogging. Start by spreading the word.