Nancy - DOTC taking over MRT maintenance a "risky experiment"

Senator Nancy Binay today called the plan of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to take over the maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT) a "risky experiment."

"It's a risky experiment, using commuters as guinea pigs. May mga tao na ba silang technically competent to handle the maintenance?" the lady senator said.

The DOTC said that it had formed a "shadow team" composed of MRT and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) personnel that will be working alongside APT Global in maintaining the trains.

"At hindi rin biro ang pagti-train ng mga tao, kailangang mag-invest ng time at resources para siguruhing tama ang skill levels at competencies ng maintenance personnel," Binay said.

The agency has extended the contract of APT Global until November 5 while looking for bidders in a P2.25 billion three-year maintenance contract.

She said that DOTC has not demonstrated that it can operate the MRT.

"Marami nang sablay sa operasyon ng MRT, at araw-araw nagdudusa ang ating mga kababayan," Binay said. "Mahaba na po ang litanya ng commuting public, mula sa hindi binabasa ng machine ang ticket, sirang elevators at escalators, hanggang sa mga technical problems ng mismong trains," she added.

The lady senator said that the DOTC should appoint a permanent administrator. MRT director for Operations Renato San Jose right now handles the MRT's operations in an officer-in-charge capacity.

Binay also said that taking over the maintenance of the trains might present legal problems for the government agency.

She added that the DOTC might also encounter problems in procuring the needed parts and maintenance equipment.

"Alam po nating matagal ang proseso ng procurement sa gobyerno - mula bidding hanggang sa mismong pagbili. Hindi naman po pupwedeng tumigil ang operasyon ng tren dahil wala pang nabibiling piyesa," Binay said.

Around 500,000 passengers depend on the MRT per day, which is way above its 350,000 passengers per day design.

It was also revealed earlier that the DOTC had surrendered a P4.5 billion appropriation meant to fund additional cars and funneled it to the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Binay said that many things could have been bought with the amount to improve the MRT's services.

Binay said that the DOTC should also consider for its upper management positions people that have technical experience.

"Marami na kasing lawyers sa upper management ng DOTC, it's high time that they get engineers or people with technical experience in running transportation systems as an undersecretary or assistant secretary position," she said.