MRT maintenance provider should not be litigious

THE line never ceases to amaze us. Busan Universal Rail Inc., or BURI, stands accused of procuring a critical spare part from, of all places, a shop in Bangkal, Makati.

This is dangerous, as the part supposedly procured serves as the MRT’s automatic protection system.

- tification to ensure the safety of the thousands of commuters who ride this mass transport system every day.

Inspection and certification are required by the Commission on Audit regulations. In the absence of

In reaction, BURI promptly sued Transport Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, who withheld the payment of P4 million.

This incident is unfortunate because again, it is the commuters who are bound to suffer as a result of this new dispute.

BURI claims this is all fake news. But it admits that was delivered to it, and that it returned the same to the supplier because it lacked the required documents. Still, BURI sued Chavez.

The maintenace provider should realize that the government needs to exercise due diligence on these kinds of transac bidding and proceeded with the payment, its officials risk being sued for graft.

In fact, as Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade has said, the withholding of the P4- million payment to BURI was not the sole decision of Undersecretary Chavez; it was the entire department’s decision.

“Undersecretary Chavez always consults his plans and actions with me. His decisions were made with my consent, approval and confirmation. So, I should also be included in the graft case filed against him,” Tugade said on Monday. “Besides, all his actions are in accordance with the contract, equity, decency and law. All these are aboveboard and have gone through rigorous review and due process,” he added.

during the Aquino administration, does not exactly have a sterling record in maintaining the country’s busiest rail line.

- vice interruptions. There were also six instances of train derailments.

Instead of being litigious, BURI should prove itself solve the problem of maintenance, BURI should at least not contribute to it.

The maintenance provider should realize that the government needs to exercise due diligence on these kinds of transactions. If the Department of Transportation did BURI’s bidding and proceeded with the payment, its officials risk being sued for graft.