Despite the successive glitches in the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT
3), the government has extended the contract of the current maintenance
service provider.
Lawyer Michael Sagcal, Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC) spokesman, announced the extension of the contract
of Global-Autre Porte Technique, Inc. (Global APT) yesterday on the
same day that the MRT 3 suffered another glitch.
Passengers of the southbound MRT 3 train had to be unloaded at the
Kamuning Station in Quezon City after it can’t move due to “startup
interlock.”
Only last Tuesday, another MRT 3 train had to stop when it was found out that it was running with some doors open.
The worst accident that MRT 3 suffered was last month when one of its trains overshot the Pasay City terminal.
“The term of Global-APT’s extended services is on a month-to-month
basis. It may be terminated at the DOTC’s option anytime after two weeks
from September 4. The rate is P57 million per month,” Sagcal explained.
Sagcal added that the DOTC’s bidding of the new three-year
maintenance contract for MRT 3 will continue despite the suggestion of
the MRT Holdings (MRTH) to extend the contract period from one to 10
years.
MRTH, which owns 100 percent of MRT Corp. (MRTC), which in turn owns
the MRT 3 system, earlier said it prefers to get a 10-year contractor,
stressing that maintenance of trains requires longer period. MRTH
spokesperson Atty. David Narvasa also said they urged DOTC to wait for
the audit findings of rail experts from Hong Kong to ascertain the true
state of the MRT 3 system before bidding out the maintenance contract.
The MRTH’s suggestions apparently fell on deaf ears as the DOTC
commenced the bidding for the P2.2-billion MRT 3 maintenance contract.
However, Sagcal maintained that the DOTC Bids and Awards Committee has
adopted the suggestions of the MRTC.
“Our co-party and owner of the MRT 3 facilities, MRTC, provided their
comments on the terms of reference. Most, if not all, of their
suggestions were adopted by our BAC,” he pointed out.
Despite MRTH’s ownership of MRTC, Sagcal stressed out that MRTH has no personality in the MRT 3’s operations and improvement.
“MRTH has no personality in the rail line’s operation and
improvement,” he argued. “If their reasoning is correct (that MRTH and
MRTC are the same entity), then we can also sue MRTH if we sue MRTC.
Then we would also be able to sue MRTH’s shareholders, since they own
MRTH.”
For the commuters’ part, Elvira Medina of the National Center for
Commuter Safety and Protection (NCCSP) is planning to sue Global APT for
its performance in maintaining the MRT 3 system.
“Our lawyers and I will work on it this weekend,” was all that Medina
said when asked what charges the NCCSP plans to file against Global
APT.
Victorino Espiritu of Global APT appealed for commuters’
understanding, stressing that the 15-year-old MRT 3 system is prone to
glitches given its aging equipments and rolling stock. Espiritu said
that Global APT will also join the bidding for the new MRT 3 maintenance
contract.
The MRT 3 runs the length of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, from Taft
Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City. The 15-year-old
elevated rail line is designed to carry 350,000 passengers but average
daily ridership hits 540,000 as of recent government data.
The government plans to buyout the private stake at MRTC and to
eventually privatize the operation and maintenance of the MRT 3 system,
which consequently prevents the DOTC from bidding out a longer
maintenance contract.
Meanwhile, newly installed MRT officer-in-charge Renato San Jose said
maintenance personnel have been deployed in every train to provide
immediate response to technical glitches and avoid longer service
interruption during train breakdowns.
San Jose, formerly MRT 3 director for operations, said he had asked
Global APT to deploy some of its maintenance personnel to accompany
train operators throughout the line’s operating hours and provide
immediate assistance during train breakdowns.
“The more trains without glitch that we deploy means the more
passengers we can carry and therefore, the lesser queuing time for our
passengers,” San Jose said.
San Jose admitted that it takes passengers at least 30 to 40 minutes
to line up to get their tickets, pass through security checks, pass
through the ticket turnstiles, queue up at the station platform and
eventually ride the MRT 3 to their destinations.
