MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) intends to finalize a deal to bring back Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. for the rehabilitation of the MRT-3 before the year ends after the original target schedule for the signing of agreements has been pushed back.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the agency is targeting to proceed with the signing of the agreement with Sumitomo, MRT-3’s former maintenance provider, within the month or by November.
The agency’s original plan was to finalize the deal with Sumitomo within August or the middle of September at the latest.
“I want that to be signed already,” Tugade said.
Asked on the reason on why the signing did not push through as originally targeted, Tugade cited timing and the Dalian trains, but he declined to elaborate.
“It’s near, there are just some things being clarified,” he said.
The Philippine National Railways has been tasked by the DOTr to test the trains manufactured by CRRC Dalian Co. Ltd. of China before the units are integrated the into the MRT-3 operations this year.
Dalian has agreed to shoulder the cost for technical adjustments to be made on the 48 trains it manufactured.
Incompatibility concerns were earlier raised with the 48 light rail vehicles procured by the previous administration for P3.8 billion after they exceeded the weight prescribed in the terms of reference (49,700 kilograms vs. 46,300 kilograms).
Following an independent audit conducted by German firm TUV Rheinland, the DOTr said the Dalian trains could still be used if the adjustments identified in the audit are addressed “without sacrificing the safety, the security, and life of the passengers and the system.”
The DOTr is bringing back former maintenance provider Sumitomo to rehabilitate the MRT-3 in a span of two to three years, with the objective of restoring the train line’s reliability and increase its capacity.
MRT-3 started operating in 2000 and the first round of general overhaul was completed by Sumitomo in 2008.