MRT Corp. , the owners of the MRT-3 System, said that they can rehire Sumitomo and fix the MRT-3 System without stopping operations if the Transportation Department would allow them.
MRTC confirmed that Sumitomo Corp. is willing to return as the maintenance provider of the MRT if hired by MRTC. Sumitomo is the maintenance contractor that designed, built and maintained the MRT-3 system for 12 years without major glitches.
“Sumitomo has confirmed its willingness to return as the maintenance contractor of the MRTC if we hire them,” Engr. Frederick Parayno, President of MRT Corp. said in an interview.
In fact, Sumitomo has thoroughly discussed an action plan for rehabilitation of the MRT with MRT Corp., which the MRT owners submitted in several letters to Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade as early as February 2017 as well as to President Duterte. MRTC has likewise invited the DoTr to join them in their discussions with Sumitomo.
The rehabilitation plan of MRT Corp. will include a full inspection of the MRT to be completed within 30 days by 100 engineers, the purchase of 50 Million USD worth of spare parts, replacement of broken rails, the complete overhaul of all 73 units or cars of the MRT.
Parayno confirmed that the rehabilitation can be completed by Sumitomo, all while the trains continue to be operational, in as soon as 26 months from the beginning of the rehabilitation program.
MRTC has likewise expressed its willingness to advance the 150 Million USD for the rehabilitation of the trains, to recover later only through fares, even without increasing MRT fares beyond the rates of air-conditioned buses.
MRTC reminded the public of how well the MRTC functioned while under the maintenance of Sumitomo Corp. This was because Sumitomo, fulfilling its single point of responsibility, fulfilled its obligation to procure spare parts.
“There is no other cause for the damage to the trains but the incompetence and failure of the succeeding maintenance providers to procure spare parts. Sumitomo was effective as a maintenance provider because it was religious in the purchase of spare parts when they were handling the maintenance of the MRT-3 and in fact left 15 Million USD worth of spare parts when their contract was terminated by DOTC,” MRTC President Frederick Parayno said in an interview.
The companies that took over maintenance after Sumitomo, however, failed to purchase spare parts, causing major damage to the MRT-3.
With any vehicle, whether a streetcar or LRV, it is the failure of the maintenance provider to provide spare parts that is the cause of deterioration if not complete damage.