DOTr: 74 foreign, local firms expressed interest in MRT-3 privatization plan

Dozens of international and local companies have expressed interest in the government’s plan to hand over the operations and maintenance as well as expansion of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In a news release on Tuesday, the DOTr said it held a joint market sounding activity with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last Thursday, May 14 for the MRT-3 Capacity Expansion, Operations, and Maintenance (CEOM) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project.

Under the MRT-3 CEOM PPP Project, the winning bidder will take over the operations and maintenance of the existing line, ensure continued operations without service interruption, manage the MRT-3 area in the Common Station, introduce new Dalian trains in the commercial service, add new rolling stock, and upgrade the signalling, depot, power and communication systems, among others.

"This MRT-3 PPP, it is a very viable and promising project. This is an existing line, and we know that historically, we know 'yung ridership nito can reach up to 620,000 to 630,000 people a day,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan, adding that the participation of 74 local and foreign firms in the market sounding exercise was a good indication of the prospective bidders’ confidence in the projects of the government.

Meanwhile, ADB Country Director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries and PPP Center of the Philippines Undersecretary and Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre expressed support for the MRT-3 CEOM PPP Project.

"With this MRT-3 CEOM PPP Project, we're proud and quite privileged to be a partner of the government of the Philippines in this endeavor to improve the overall connectivity for the Filipino people," said Jeffries.

"The DOTr has consistently supported public-private partnerships and continues to recognize the private sector's capacity to help deliver world-class transportation infrastructures and services," said Latorre. — RSJ, GMA News