DOTC chief to stay – Noy

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the brickbats his administration has been getting for the poor transport service in Metro Manila, President Aquino is keeping Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya at the helm of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters in a briefing yesterday that the former aide-de-camp of Aquino’s late mother Corazon still enjoys the Chief Executive’s trust and confidence. Abaya is also the secretary general of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

“All Cabinet secretaries serve at the pleasure of the President and their performance is continually being assessed by the President as Chief Executive,” he said.

Abaya is being hounded by resignation calls for his failure to address transport sector woes, especially the frequent disruptions in MRT services.

His department is also being accused of initiating anomalous contracts, particularly involving the repair and maintenance of the MRT system.

“Pertaining to the day-to-day problems faced by commuters in Metro Manila, the President has tasked the DOTC and other concerned agencies to address these problems with effective solutions,” he said.

“Additional transport infrastructure are also being built and planned to provide long-term solutions for the benefit of our citizens,” he added.

Sen. Grace Poe – an independent presidential candidate – earlier asked President Aquino to sack Abaya, citing the controversial awarding of the P3.81-billion three-year MRT-3 maintenance contract to a Korean-Filipino group.

Abaya, for his part, has shrugged off resignation calls.

“As I have repeatedly said, it is a mere privilege for me to be serving our people,” Abaya said in a text message to reporters.

Abaya was appointed to the DOTC post in 2012, replacing Manuel Roxas II who moved to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and who would later be LP’s standard-bearer in the May elections.

Commuters using the MRT-3 along EDSA have to endure long queues daily at stations as trains and coaches are so few and conk out frequently.

The joint venture of Busan Transportation Corp., Edison Development & Construction, Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMICorp Inc. and Castan Corp. has yet to take over the task of maintaining the system from the previous maintenance provider, whose contract with the government lapsed last Jan. 4.

The DOTC announced the new maintenance contract with the joint venture last Dec. 24, a holiday. The deal covers the general overhaul of trains and the total replacement of the signaling system.

Previous contractor German-Filipino joint venture group Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik-Comm Builders & Technology Philippines (SBI-CBT JV) turned down a one-month extension of its deal with the government after the latter refused to pay the joint venture P102 million representing the balance of contract cost.

Abaya also announced yesterday the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to award more premium point-to-point (P2P) routes to bus operators this month as it extended the special permit earlier awarded to a tourist transport operator due to strong demand.

He explained the LTFRB has decided to extend until the end of the month the special permit for Fröhlich Tours after the deal expired last Jan. 6.

“We are pleased with the positive reception of the bus service, given the increase in ridership over the holidays. The service offers the riding public access to a convenient transportation option that can attract private car owners to shift to public transportation,” Abaya said.

The premium P2P bus service allows shorter travel time, as buses depart on a fixed schedule and travel directly from the terminal to the drop-off point. The non-stop bus service currently plies three routes to Glorietta 5 from SM North EDSA, Trinoma and SM Megamall.

Abaya pointed out the LTFRB is in the process of selecting bus operators for several premium P2P routes that would link several high-traffic origins and destinations including Makati, Ortigas Center, Alabang and Fairview.

He added the winning premium P2P bus operators would have the option to operate an interim service while the required buses are being manufactured.

Aside from the premium P2P bus service, the DOTC has established other PUV sub-categories including airport bus and rapid bus transit.

Poe, chairperson of the Senate subcommittee on public services, said yesterday her panel would resume its investigation into possible anomalies in the MRT-3 maintenance contract.

She said she would consult with her colleagues if it would be possible to conduct hearings on the matter before the Senate resumes session on Jan. 19. She said the Senate should move quickly as something undesirable might develop.

Poe said she wants to make sure Abaya and key DOTC officials will be present during the hearing. She said DOTC officials would often use out of town trips or seminars as excuse to skip hearings.

She said the panel would try to ask the officials themselves when they would be available for hearings.  – Christina Mendez, Lawrence Agcaoili