German-Filipino group offers to rehab MRT-3 for P4.65 B

MANILA, Philippines - A group composed of two German firms and a Filipino-owned company has put forward a proposal to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to rehabilitate the ageing Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) for P4.65 billion.

In a two-page letter to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, the group composed of a joint venture of Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik GmbH, HEAG mobile GmbH, and CommBuilders & Technology Philippines Inc. has submitted a proposal to rehabilitate the mass transit system along EDSA that is P116 million cheaper than the P4.76-billion budget of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

“We, CommBuilders and Technology are pleased to submit the enclosed project proposal from these world-renowned European companies, Schunk Group, and HEAG mobile – for your review and evaluation,” the group stated in the letter signed by Schunk Bahn Group Manila authorized representative Rolf Bieri and CommBuilders authorized representative Roehl Bacar.

Under the proposed Swiss challenge, the group said the basic plan is to initially mobilize rehabilitation where time and work windows are flexible and station facilities would be prioritized.

Compared to the other proposals provided, the group said its proposal would address the ancillary power, considered the 48 new trains, new stabling area, new elevators and escalators, new public address system, public information system, new toilets, platform gates, CCTV, signaling system, rail replacement and rail grinding.

The group is also looking at restoring two trains every 45 days to allow a lead time of eight to 12 months before the rolling stock is turned over to the government.

According to the proposal, the system rehabilitation to be completed in three to four years has a limited downtime of four hours to make sure that the operations of MRT-3 would not be disrupted.

Aside from the limited maintenance downtime, the group said its proposal ensures that only one entity would control the system rehabilitation composed of efficient and experienced parts integrators with global network.

Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik GmbH (Schunk) has the expertise and is an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) of high quality power transmission railway equipment.

On the other hand, HEAG mobilo operates and maintains its own fleet of trains/trams and buses since in the late 1800’s. With its operations based in Darmstadt, HEAG mobile has 23 bus lines and nine tramlines.

Operations of MRT-3 has been hampered by a series of breakdowns brought about by defective signalling system, broken rails, floods, among others.