Lawmaker seeks suspension of MRT-3 contract with BURI

A lawmaker is pushing for the suspension of the government’s P3.8-billion contract with the maintenance provider of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) as the trains often malfunction.

Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles yesterday urged Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to immediately suspend the government’s three-year contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) as the company has been proven ineffective in the maintenance of MRT-3.

The contract is on its second year. It will end on Jan. 7, 2019.

Nograles wondered why Tugade has yet to act when he already wrote a letter calling for the contract’s suspension last June 2, 2017.

“He must suspend it immediately and correct all measures for the safety of our riders,” Nograles said in a news forum in Quezon City.

“They are also facing graft and corruption cases, so the contract should be suspended,” he added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently found that BURI bought spare parts for MRT-3 from a shop in Makati City which did not undergo inspection and certification.

Nograles noted that the government also gave P650 million to BURI, but there has been no improvement.

He pointed out that the problem is so severe that even a used adult diaper which landed on the rail line’s power lines disrupted operations.

Nograles expressed confidence that the government can handle the maintenance of MRT-3 on its own without interruption of its services.

“There is no hindrance if the government takes over,” he said.

The DOTr recently filed graft charges against former transporation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, other former officials of the agency and executives of BURI.