German, Filipino consortium raises offer to improve MRT3

MANILA, Philippines – A consortium of two German firms and a Filipino-owned company appears dead set in rehabilitating the aging Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT3).

On top of its P4.65-billion ($105.18 million) proposal made on March 2, Commbuilders & Technology Philippines Incorporated (CB&T), together with Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik GmbH and HEAG mobile GmbH also offered to perform “special works” to improve the services of the aging mass rail transit.

The special works include:

• Install platform edged doors worth P241.65 million ($5.46 million) for safety and protection
• Establish automatic train protection for P190 million ($4.29 million)
• Upgrade its communications system worth P108.1 million ($2.44 million)
• Rehabilitate toilets for P46.5 million ($1.05 million)
• Install LED lightning for P45 million ($1.02 million)
• Construct a footbridge at the North Avenue station for P13.7 million ($309,639.49)
• Repair unimog (multipurpose 4-wheel drive medium truck) for P2.4 million ($54,243.41)

“We can provide other services that are beyond the means of rehabilitation and restoration of the MRT3,” Roehl Bacar, president of CB&T told reporters on Thursday, March 12.

Earlier, infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) resubmitted to the DOTC its $524 million proposal to improve and expand the operations of MRT3.

Metro Global Holdings Incorporated led by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña also submitted a $150 million proposal.

Solving the puzzle

The German and Filipino group has a combined expertise in railway system management.

For instance, Schunk Bahn- und Industrietechnik GmbH (Schunk) has the expertise and is an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) of high quality power transmission railway equipment.

HEAG mobile GmbH operates and maintains its own fleet of trains/trams and buses since the late 1800s. With its operations based in Darmstadt, HEAG mobile has 23 bus lines and nine tramlines.

CB&T is the maintenance contractor of Light Railway Transit Line 1 (LRT1).

The group also previously said that their rehabilitation and restoration proposal for MRT3 is P116 million ($2.62 million) cheaper than the P4.76-billion ($107.58 million) budget of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Bacar added that with their proposal, DOTC could save the P50-million ($1.13 million) budget to tap a consultant for the capacity expansion and rehabilitation of MRT3.

The group also offered the proposal that includes the transfer of German technology to the Philippines for free, Bacar said.

Under its proposed Swiss Challenge, the group said the basic plan is to initially mobilize rehabilitation where time and work windows are flexible and station facilities would be prioritized.

The group’s proposal would address the ancillary power, considered the 48 new trains, new stabling area, new elevators and escalators, new public address system, public information system, new toilets, platform gates, CCTV, signaling system, rail replacement, and rail grinding.

Restoring two trains every 45 days to allow a lead time of 8 to 12 months before the rolling stock is turned over to the government is also factored in the group’s proposal.

The system rehabilitation is eyed to be completed in 3 to 4 years and has a limited downtime of 4 hours to make sure that the operations of MRT3 would not be disrupted.

The proposal also ensures that only one entity would control the system rehabilitation composed of efficient and experienced parts integrators with global network.

“I have solved all the puzzle for the DOTC and all they have to do is just implement it,” Bacar said. – Rappler.com



US$1 = P44.25