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Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya is mulling over the transfer of Metro Rail Transit (MRT 3) operations to LRT lines 1 and 2 operator Light Rail Transit Authority.
“I believe that LRTA is better equipped and has the flexibility as GOCC (government-owned and -controlled corporation) to handle MRT,” Abaya told the Senate finance committee during a hearing on the DOTC’s proposed budget for 2015.
MRT has been under the project management office attached to the DOTC for the last 15 years, he said.
However, the DOTC chief said he does not know at his point how MRTC, a private consortium responsible for the maintenance of MRT, would react to such a proposal.
The DOTC is asking for a P53-billion budget to buy out MRTC and take over the mass rail transit system MRT 3.
Abaya admitted during the hearing the lack of foresight on the part of government when it comes to the maintenance of MRT after the DOTC allowed the contract of Autre Porte Technique Global Inc. (APT) to expire on September 3 before they could have advertised the bidding to replace APT. The company last year won a one-year maintenance contract for MRT 3.
Instead, the department gave APT a new contract renewable each month basis until after a new contract for a new service provider has been awarded through bidding.
Abaya said the contract is P57 million per month.
“I believe that LRTA is better equipped and has the flexibility as GOCC (government-owned and -controlled corporation) to handle MRT,” Abaya told the Senate finance committee during a hearing on the DOTC’s proposed budget for 2015.
MRT has been under the project management office attached to the DOTC for the last 15 years, he said.
However, the DOTC chief said he does not know at his point how MRTC, a private consortium responsible for the maintenance of MRT, would react to such a proposal.
The DOTC is asking for a P53-billion budget to buy out MRTC and take over the mass rail transit system MRT 3.
Abaya admitted during the hearing the lack of foresight on the part of government when it comes to the maintenance of MRT after the DOTC allowed the contract of Autre Porte Technique Global Inc. (APT) to expire on September 3 before they could have advertised the bidding to replace APT. The company last year won a one-year maintenance contract for MRT 3.
Instead, the department gave APT a new contract renewable each month basis until after a new contract for a new service provider has been awarded through bidding.
Abaya said the contract is P57 million per month.
