MRT maintenance contract set to expire as mishap probe begins

MANILA, Philippines - While authorities are investigating the train mishap that injured over 30 people on Wednesday, the maintenance contract of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 is about the expire.

In an interview with ANC's Headstart on Thursday, MRT spokesperson Atty. Hernando Cabrera said the maintenance contract given to Autre Porte Technique Global Inc. (APT) will be terminated soon.

"If I remember it right, last month na nila ngayon or next month 'yung kanilang termination," Cabrera told program host Karen Davila.

"Lahat nung aspect ng tren, kasama 'yun sa kanilang responsibility," he added.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded the one-year maintenance contract for the MRT3 to APT on September 2013.

Read: APT Global gets one-year maintenance deal for MRT 3

Cabrera said the formal investigation on the MRT incident yesterday will cover all issues including those related to maintenance.

"There is no way na malalagpasan natin ito. Definitely, isa 'yan sa mga itatanong natin dito. Yung maintenance aspect niya, nagagawa ba?" he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, a defective MRT3 train overshot the platform of the EDSA-Taft Station in Pasay City and rammed a concrete barrier, injuring at least 36 passengers and damaging several passing vehicles.

The DOTC said initial reports showed the derailed train had lost power between the Magallanes and Taft stations and was being pushed by another train towards the EDSA-Taft Station.

"The derailed train initially stalled between the Magallanes and Taft stations and, following railway standard operating procedures, had to be pushed by the next incoming train. The two trains were coupled or linked together, but along the way, the coupling disconnected," explained Michael Arthur Sagcal, DOTC spokesperson.

MRT's Cabrera said the formal probe on the incident will begin today and it will determine if the mishap was caused by human error or mechanical failure.

Earlier, DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya said the incident was not likely caused by a maintenance issue.

"Ito naman clearly, is not a maintenance issue. Tingin ko it is more a emergency procedural issue. nasundan ba ng mga drivers natin yung paraan, yung standard operating procedure kung paano i-address ang ganitong sitwasyon," Abaya said in an interview with reporters on Wednesday that was shown on television reports. -Louis Bacani