Manila, Philippines – The country’s closest ally, Japan, has
committed to extend financial assistance for the rehabilitation and maintenance
of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).
MRT-3 has been causing stress to commuters due to its recurring
problem and suffered at least 500 disruptions in 2017.
The Philippines and Japan have reached an agreement which
involves obtaining official development assistance (ODA) through a loan under
Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Special Terms for Economic
Partnership.
“These developments show that we are wasting no time and
effort in rehabilitating and restoring the reliability and capacity of MRT-3.
This year, we will make significant improvements to MRT-3 and that is our
commitment to the Filipino commuters,” said the Department of Transportation
(DOTr) OIC Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan.
A feasibility study is set to be conducted by JICA from
January to February to assess what needs to be fixed in the MRT -3 systems.
The loan agreement will be signed in March to April followed
by the procurement of the rehabilitation and maintenance provider once the
assessment is completed.
This Japan ODA for the MRT-3 Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project
is part of DOTr’s plan to improve the MRT system’s operations.
DOTr terminated its contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc (former
maintenance provider of MRT-3). Last November after its failure to perform its
obligations and procure spare for the train’s maintenance.
DOTr also aims to promote accountability when it terminated
BURI; ensure continued service delivery by establishing the Maintenance
Transition Team (MTT) and purchasing needed spare parts; contracting a rehabilitation
and maintenance service provider with an ODA partner, to provide long term
maintenance and operator provider for MRT 3.
Source: PNA
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