Senate to investigate other DOTr contracts on MRT-3 rehab

MANILA, Philippines — As discussion on solutions to Metro Manila’s traffic mess heat up, the Senate is poised to investigate alleged changes in some contracts entered into by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit.

Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, in an interview over dwIZ said the panel can reopen the investigation into the rehabilitation of the country’s elevated mass transit system along EDSA.

“Actually, there will be a technical working group coming up with a plan and see how it matches with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). It is only now that I am hearing that Sumitomo has a provision like that,” Poe said in Filipino, referring to the warning of the Japanese firm not to push through with the use of China-made Dalian coaches.

The STAR columnist Jarius Bondoc informed Poe about the apparent contradictory pronouncement of DOTr officials, led by Secretary Arthur Tugade, that they will use Dalian trains soon while signing a contract with Sumitomo, which provided that the China-made trains should not be used in the MRT operations.

“They promised to operate Dalian trains but they signed contracts with Sumitomo to rehabilitate the MRT-3. On page 39 of the contract it says the DOTr is not allowed to put any new train cars. What Sumitomo means are the China-made ones. Sumitomo doesn’t want these to run in the first place,” Bondoc pointed out in Filipino.

Poe maintained yesterday she was not against granting President Duterte emergency powers to address the worsening traffic crisis in Metro Manila and other parts of the country as long as this is backed by a clear and well-studied masterplan.

Poe pointed out she filed an emergency powers bill in the 17th Congress but this was not passed due to lack of a clear plan, and submission of vague proposals from the DOTr.