DOTC extends contract of MRT-3 maintenance provider

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) extended anew the contract of the interim maintenance services provider for Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) due to the delay in the bidding of a new contract.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the contract of PH Trams-CB&T was renewed for another two months until August 19 for a consideration of $2.3 million.

Abaya said the extension is just an emergency measure to avoid disruption of services as his agency is still in the process of bidding out a one-year temporary maintenance contract for MRT-3. This contract is worth P712.77 million.

READ: DOTC hires interim maintenance provider for MRT

This is the second time that PH Trams-CB&T’s contract was extended. The DOTC renewed the company’s contract when it first expired in April.

Bid for one-year contract under review

DOTC is evaluating the P685-million bid of Autre Porte Technique Global Inc. for the one-year MRT-3 maintenance contract. Autre was the only one that qualified among 3 groups that put up bids.

The government is pursuing the complete takeover of MRT-3 so it could bid out the complete operation and maintenance of the mass rail system.

Last March, President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 126 ordering DOTC and the Department of Finance to buy out private shareholders of MRT-3. – Rappler.com