Meralco unit to maintain power at MRT3

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has tapped a unit of electricity giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to maintain the power supply of the aging Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT3).

DOTC announced Friday, July 3 that it awarded a P42.23-million ($936,364.03) contract to Meralco’s MRAIL Incorporated to maintain the power supply and overhead catenary systems (OCS) of MRT3 for 6 months starting Sunday, July 5.

Last week, te DOTC awarded a P131.28-million ($2.91-milion) contract for the upkeep of MRT3 to Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik GmbH and Comm Builders & Technology Philippines Corporation, also starting July 5. (READ: German-Filipino joint venture bags MRT3 maintenance contract)

SBI is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of high-quality power transmission railway equipment. CB&T is part of the joint venture that currently maintains the Light Rail Transit line 1 system.

The 6-month contract that covers rolling stocks, depot equipment, and signaling, is the largest component of the MRT3 maintenance requirement.

Earlier, the DOTC awarded 4 contracts worth P61.5 million to various groups pertaining to the maintenance of MRT-3 starting July 5.

To date, DOTC awarded 4 contracts worth P61.5 million ($1.36 million) to various groups for the maintenance of MRT3. (READ: DOTC to MRT3 riders: ‘Expect improvements soon’)

Only one of the 7 components is still up for procurement and award: the conveyance systems.

DOTC alsoawarded to Jardine Schindler Elevator Corporation the contract for the restoration of the conveyance facilities at the MRT3 along EDSA. (READ: First batch of MRT3 escalators up for P22.11M rehab)

DOTC is procuring maintenance sub-contractors directly under a multi-disciplinary approach as it prepares the 3-year maintenance contract for procurement, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said earlier.

The delivery of the 48 brand new trains by Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company of China has been deferred to end-January 2016, instead of the last quarter of this year. (READ: DOTC to get new MRT3 trains starting January 2016) – Rappler.com