Still no details on huge MRT-3 loan, Dalian trains

There are still no details on the P18-billion MRT-3 rehabilitation loan that the Philippines and Japan are to sign today.

Usec. for Railways Timothy John Batan has not explained why the Dept. of Transportation is borrowing that much from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

No breakdown of the P18 billion has been given. Batan has only copied the scope of work that MRT-3 private owner-builder Metro Rail Transit Corp. and Japanese maintenance contractor Sumitomo agreed on in 2015 and submitted to the past DOTr administration.

The rehab presented to DOTr in 2015 was to cost only P7.5 billion. Sumitomo was to re-partner with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the 26-month work.

Batan at first announced that his rehab, also by Sumitomo-MHI, would cost P17 billion. That was nearly P10 billion more than the MRTC proposal. When pressed in this column for details, he only obfuscated the issue.

Now the cost has risen by P1 billion to P18 billion. Expect Batan to divert the issue anew with whatever accusations and insinuations.

The entire MRT-3 rehab with maintenance for 26 months is to total P22.06 billion, the DOTr said. The additional P4.06 billion to Batan’s P18-billion estimate presumably is for loan supervision, work monitoring, and interest.

Even that added P4.06 billion Batan has not explained.

The Filipino people will bankroll the entire P18 billion, plus P4.06 billion. They have a right to know what they are paying for. The Constitution requires full transparency in all government transactions involving public interest.

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Batan is also secretive about fielding the 48 defective light rail vehicles from China.

He has only said that some of the 48 already have been retrofitted, with three recently fielded for MRT-3 runs. He has not clarified if Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corp. did it, and if counterchecked by an independent engineer.

Assessing the Dalian LRVs early this year, Sumitomo found design and fabrication defects, as well as lack of tests on 94 components. All had to do with safety, reliability, and durability. Sumitomo recommended that the 48 LRVs be returned to Dalian’s factory for repairs and tests.

Consequently DOTr paid European firm TUV Rheinland P53 million to repeat the audit. TUV Rheinland found the same 94 defects, and suggested decisive action.

Batan claimed last week that Toshiba of Japan oversaw the retrofitting. That’s strange. Toshiba had supplied only the electricals to fix the faulty trains. It could not have certified any parts or works it did not supply or perform.

Batan would do well to show all the pertinent documents – again for transparency. The public safety and P3.8-billion purchase investment on the trains depend on it.

All 48 LRVs eventually would be fielded, Batan said. There are no indications that they’ve been repaired and tested at the Dalian plant.

Questions: Who will maintain the Dalian trains? Will it be Sumitomo, which wanted the 48 units returned to China first? Does Batan have answers, or only more diversionary blah-blahs?

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Only for candidates who are for change and new politics, for challengers against the corrupt traditional politicos:

Print T-shirts with the declaration: KANDIDATO AKO, HINDI AKO MAGNANAKAW!

You and your platform will stand out. Your vote-buying, crooked opponent won’t be able to wear such sign, lest s/he be stoned by electors.

Voters too who truly are for change and political cleansing may in turn have T-shirts printed with: BOTANTE AKO. NOT FOR SALE BOTO KO.

It will remind others of the sanctity of the ballot. Vote-sellers will not wear such signs, lest they are videoed and their shamelessness exposed on social media.

Please spread these simple suggestions from Willie B. Villarama. Show that there are many of you.

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Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ (882-AM).

Gotcha archives on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jarius-Bondoc/1376602159218459, or The STAR website https://www.philstar.com/columns/134276/gotcha