Independent auditor wants China-made trains to undergo weighing test

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced that an independent auditor’s examination of 48 China-made commuter trains is “substantially completed,” saying a weighing test is still needed to be sure.

In a statement, the DOTR said German consultancy firm TUV Rheinland wants the trains bought from Chinese firm Dalian Locomotive during the previous administration weighed to “eliminate any doubts.”

“Among the tests that TUV Rheinland recommended to be conducted is a weighing test of the Dalian trains in Manila, because the previous project team for the project failed to attend and witness the weight testing done in Dalian, China in November 2015,” the DOTr said.

“Regardless of the independent assessment’s outcome, this administration remains committed in running after the officials that caused the current degraded state of MRT-3,” it added.

The Dalian-manufactured trains, which officials said turned out to be incompatible with the system, were purchased by the DOTr under the leadership of then secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Reports of Metro Rail Transit train breakdowns have become as regular as the weather.

Last year, a carriage detached from the rest of the train in a morning rush hour, causing service interruption that prompted stranded passengers to walk to the next station through the rail line.

There was also a case when a train unloaded passengers after one of its seats caught fire.

Glitches and problems on the MRT earned the Aquino administration criticism and scorn from commuters who grew tired of their statements that the train line's problems had been passed on to them by the previous administration.