Korean-Filipino group bags P3.81-B MRT-3 maintenance contract

MRT Train. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

A Korean-Filipino joint venture has bagged a three-year maintenance contract for the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3), the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) said on Thursday.

The DOTC said the Joint Venture of Busan Transportation Corporation, Edison Development & Construction, Tramat Mercantile, Inc., TMICorp Inc., and Castan Corporation won the P3.81-billion maintenance contract.

Beginning January 5, 2016, DOTC said the winning concessionaire would fulfill the general maintenance requirements for three years.

“The long contract period will allow the new service provider to procure the necessary spare parts needed to increase the number of operating trains, especially during peak hours,” DOTC said in a statement.

The multi-billion contract will also cover the general overhaul of the trains and the total replacement of the signaling system.

“While procuring the long-term service provider, the DOTC engaged subcontractors directly under a multi-disciplinary approach to enhance the efficiency of maintenance works per component,” the agency said.

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DOTC said previous attempts to bid out the long-term maintenance contract in September 2014 and again in January 2015 failed due to the non-participation of bidders.

Recognizing the urgent need to address the railway’s maintenance requirements, the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) unanimously approved the transport agency’s decision to proceed with an alternative mode of procurement pursuant to the Republic Act No. 9184.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) have also approved the said mode of procurement.

Light Rail Vehicle delivery

DOTC said the second new light rail vehicle (LRV) for the MRT-3 arrived Wednesday at the Manila International Container Terminal.

After it is processed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and transported to the MRT-3 Depot, tests on the different components will be conducted until February.

“These include testing the German-made traction motors from Voith and brake systems from Knorr-Bremse, and the overall performance of the LRV to ensure that it is safe, reliable, and at par with international standards,” DOTC said.

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It added that two more LRVs are expected to be delivered over the next two months, adding that MRT-3 commuters could expect one new running train by the end of the first quarter next year.

DOTC said delivery of the LRVs will be at four per month by March, and is scheduled to be completed with the 48th unit in January 2017.

“The DOTC project implementation team has been closely monitoring the production process to ensure the rapid progress and proper manufacture of the new trains,” the agency said.

“The 48 new LRVs are part of the DOTC’s MRT-3 capacity expansion project, which aims to decongest the metropolis’ busiest railway system by boosting its capacity to over 800,000 daily passengers,” it added. -Nestor Corrales, CDG