Japanese experts auditing MRT-3 ahead of rehabilitation
JAPANESE experts have begun an audit of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3 system ahead of the system’s rehabilitation, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.
In a statement, the DoTr said that more than 50 railway engineers and experts engaged by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) started performing due diligence on the commuter rail line yesterday.
The department said that the audit is part of an agreement with the Japanese government for the rehabilitation works of the train system.
Last month, the Philippine and Japanese governments exchanged notes on official development assistance ( ODA). The arrangement with Japan involves ODA financing under JICA’s Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP).
The Japanese government will nominate a rehabilitation provider. The department said that the joint venture of Sumitomo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is being considered due to their previous experience of designing and maintaining the MRT.
The DoTr said that the due diligence performed by JICA experts is separate from the ongoing Independent Audit and Assessment (IAA) by TUV Rheinland for the entire MRT-3 system. DoTr last month awarded TUV Rheinland the contract for the IAA to evaluate the 48 train cars procured by the past government from CRRC Dalian.
DoTr in November terminated its contract with Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI), citing BURI’s alleged failure to ensure eff icient operations and the availability of trains, as well as failure to procure spare parts.
BURI said in a statement that since the contract was terminated, the DoTr inherited a total of 21 running trains ready for revenue service. Currently, there are between five and eight trains running during peak hours, as against the contract requirement of 18 running trains. —