2 firms wrestle for control of MRT station, train ads

MANILA, Philippines - A private firm has expressed concern over MRT Development Corp.’s (MRT Devco) move to assume control of the placement and selling of advertisement on the EDSA-bound MRT stations and trains.

Bing Kimpo, chief marketing officer of Trackworks, said despite a stay order by the Pasig City regional trial court, MRT Devco has been informing its advertiser-clients that they are set to exercise their “development and advertising” rights over MRT stations and trains.

“It is a defiance of a court order,” Kimpo told The Star.

But counsels of the MRT Devco from the Poblador, Bautista and Reyes law firm denied that the Pasig RTC had issued a stay order.

Trackworks, which has exclusively conducted advertising activities in MRT since 1998, has been fighting to keep their control of the advertising at the EDSA-bound rail line, which they bagged through a deal with the MRT Devco.

Trackworks said the Supreme Court itself had upheld its exclusive right to sell advertising space at the MRT when they were embroiled in a fight with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which sought to dismantle their advertising billboards and signages last year.

In that ruling, the SC reaffirmed the right of Trackworks as the only legal entity authorized to sell advertising opportunities at the MRT.

Aside from the SC ruling, Trackworks said that last month, the Pasig RTC issued a stay order wherein it directed disputing companies Trackworks and MRT Devco to submit to arbitration and resolve their legal battle over advertising rights on the MRT.    – Rainier Allan Ronda