MRT-3 rehab not delayed – DOTr

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) clarified yesterday that the Japan-funded MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project is not delayed.

Rehabilitation and maintenance service provider Sumitomo Corporation, together with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), started advance transition works as early as November 2018, DOTr said in a statement.

Following the signing of a Rehabilitation and Maintenance Agreement (RMA) with the DOTr last December 28, Sumitomo-MHI started mobilizing advance engineering teams to MRT-3, and in February, started advance procuring of tracks, train parts, and other components necessary for the comprehensive rehabilitation of MRT-3.

To clarify earlier reports, what is currently pending is DOTr’s advance payment to Sumitomo under the RMA, due to the pendency of the enactment of the 2019 General Appropriations Act, or the national budget, which is the funding source for the MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project.

Fortunately, despite the pendency of the advance payment, trust and confidence in the DOTr led to Sumitomo agreeing to advance the purchase of major components for the rehabilitation, which included rail tracks and train parts for the general overhaul of the MRT-3’s 72 train cars or bagons.

Because of this, the rehabilitation of MRT-3 is still on track to completion in 26 months, DOTr said.

Under the project, the MRT-3 will undergo rehabilitation and maintenance of its electromechanical components, power supply, rail tracks, depot equipment, and overhaul of its 72 light rail vehicles.

Once rehabilitated, the MRT-3 will return to its highgrade infrastructure condition. It will increase the number of its operating train sets from the current 15 to 20 at peak hours, double the train operating speed to 60 kilometers per hour, and slash by half the time between trains from the current 7 to 10 minutes down to 3.5 minutes.