DOTC to bid out 1-year P713-M maintenance contract for MRT 3

The government is bidding out a contract worth P713 million to maintain the operations of the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) for one year. Interested parties have until April 15 to submit their bids, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). The contract has an approved budget of P712.77 million. “To ensure that the MRT3 system operates under safe running conditions with on-time and reliable performance in providing convenience to all passengers, while on one hand effectively maintains cost at a minimum level with a reliable system, the DOTC-MRT3 is inviting bidders for a one-year maintenance service provider contract for MRT3,” the DOTC said. The 17-kilometer MRT 3, which runs from North Ave. in Quezon City to Taft Ave. in Pasay City, ferries about 600,000 passengers a day, or way above its original design capacity of 350,000 passengers a day. The DOTC said the MRT 3 is the cornerstone of the agency’s integrated strategy to alleviate chronic traffic congestion along EDSA. Last October, the DOTC awarded a contract for the maintenance of the MRT3 to PH Trams-CB&T JV. The interim maintenance provider of the MRT 3 is for six months while it conducts the procurement process for a regular maintenance provider for the train line.   Last December, Malacañang gave the DOTC the green light to pursue the complete government takeover of the MRT 3 to help Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines unload their interest in the system. Prior to this, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has sent several warning to both the Land Bank and the DBP regarding its investments in the mass transport system. The plan to buy out the private sector's stake in the MRT-3 would mean the government would no longer need to pay MRT Corp. huge fees every year. The DOTC annually pays the MRT Corp. for equity rental payments, maintenance cost, debt guaranteed payment, insurance expenses, and others.  — KBK, GMA News