DOTC: MRT riders suffer due to blocked capacity upgrade

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Saturday, February 8, that the owner of the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT3) along EDSA has forced MRT riders to suffer because they failed to upgrade the ridership capacity of the train system.

“MRTH-II owes us all an explanation. If they admit to having the responsibility for adding LRVs to the MRT-3 line, why haven’t they done anything all these years? Instead, they have forced MRT riders to suffer for so long,” said DOTC spokesperson Atty. Michael Arthur Sagcal.

Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc. II (MRTH-II) and the Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) are the owners of the popular rail line under a build-lease-transfer agreement with the DOTC.

The government recently awarded a P3.8 billion contract to purchase 48 brand new trains for the MRT3 to Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. of China. The new trains would improve services with 4-car trains arriving every 2.5 minutes instead of the current three-car configuration every three minutes.

But the MRT and MRTH-II secured a temporary restraining order from Makati City RTC Branch 66 presiding judge Joselito Villarosa under the premise that the DOTC usurped the MRTC’s right to construct and maintain MRT3, including adding new train cars.

The company said it wanted to provide additional trains at no cost to the government. It also claimed the DOTC did not seek their consent and approval for the proposed capacity expansion project.

Sagcal questioned however why the company has not improved the services at the MRT3 system.

“With MRTH-II’s admission of its faults and shortcomings, it should be obvious to all of us that the DOTC must be allowed to go ahead with the project, rather than leave it in the hands of MRTH-II. Public interest is at stake,” he said.

Sagcal also added that, prior to the court order, the Chinese firm promised to expedite the delivery of the trains within two years, instead of the three years as stipulated in the contract.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) has a 48% interest in MRTC. MPIC has offered to spend $300 million to expand the system’s capacity and $350 million to acquire equity and bonds issued by MRTC.

The lower court will hear the case on February 13. – Rappler.com