DOTr not accepting MRT-3 trains from China until audit done

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation on Wednesday said it is not accepting the train coaches for MRT-3 from a China-based firm until the independent audit is done.

“Nai-deliver na ang 48 na bagon (The 48 train coaches have been delivered) but we will not accept them unless we have an independent audit assessment of their safety and compatibility with our system,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in a press briefing.

Batan was referring to the P3.8 billion worth of trains previously procured under former Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya from China-based Dalian Corp. These coaches are eyed to augment the MRT-3.

According to Batan, the transport agency is just waiting for the assessment of the independent auditing consultant before they can accept or reject the trains.

Batan said they are open to returning the trains and said the government has laid out plans in case they would need adjustments or need to be rejected.

“We don’t want to pre-empt kasi. Our independent audit consultant we have reminded them that they will enjoy utmost independence. We are not going to in any way try to influence their independent assessment of the 48 cars from Dalian,” Batan said.

“Tayo po ay mag-dedesisyon base sa kanilang recommendation. Kung sasabihin po nila na pwede niyong patakbuhin yan na agad agaran we will consider,” he added.

Last September, the DOTr already expressed willingness to return the Dalian trains after Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee expressed disappointment over the government’s procurement of unusable trains. The train coaches arrived in 2016.