THE maintenance contractor of the Metro Rail Transit 3 said on Wednesday that its regular contract is “not anymore sufficient to correct the MRT-3’s track condition.”
At a news conference in Quezon City, Charles Perfecto Mercado, corporate secretary and legal counsel for Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), said the system’s rails need to be immediately replaced to fix the constant breakdown in train service.
He likened the system to senior citizens and said BURI was there to “assist and maintain the cars.”
The train system has a 350,000 passenger capacity a day against its actual daily number of over 500,000 passengers.
“That is also stressful,” Mercado said.
“Not all glitches are maintenance issues, and not all of them are a failure,” he added.
The 18-year-old MRT line 3 system is an aging system, he said, and they had recommended the replacement of rails from the start.
“Our government has its own priorities. The Department of Transportation and MRT 3 are doing their best to expedite to fix the rails. We have to wait,” he said.
“I would like to emphasize, we are closely working with the government. We do not fight one another. What a waste if we do not do our job. The executive [branch] is measuring us. Sooner or later, we can get what we want.”
He said they would make recommendations not only on the rail replacement, “but on cars, too.”
In an April 19 letter, the DoTr through Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez Jr. called the attention of BURI over a series of disruptions at the MRT line 3 and directed it to explain in seven days why its contract must not be terminated in accordance with the provisions of law and contract on termination for convenience and failure to satisfactorily perform work obligations.
“The seven-day period will end on Friday. It is quite hurting . Everyday, we are being crucified in the media. In the Constitution, there is due process. We do not want to be prejudged. We are still hoping to wait for the seven days. We really are hurting. That’s why we are forced to invite you [to a conference],” Mercado said.
Chavez reacted to 116 unloading incidents at MRT line 3 due to technical problems from January to April 19.
In 2016, there were at least 586 unloading incidents.
Chavez earlier said they would begin the partial termination process for contracts on signaling and general overhaul of 43 trains for P888 million and P907.4 million, respectively.
Despite the glitches of the rail system, they have satisfied their contractual obligations with the Transportation department and have never been remiss in the delivery of services, Chavez said.
“It is unfair to put the blame solely on the maintenance service provider for every incidence of train stoppage. We have been consistent in providing the maximum number of 20 trains during peak hours, and performed the required methods and frequency of specific maintenance steps of the trains and the whole system,” BURI’s statement read.
“The current condition of the track system is one of the culprits of these glitches and stoppages. Everyone must be reminded of the need to replace the rails, which is part of the maintenance provider’s scope of work.”
Mercado said “ever since its operations, even if the trains are new, glitches happen.”
The train derailment on April 18 was caused by the track vibration, the aging system, or “may be” a maintenance lapse, he said.
“We have measures to ensure the train ride is safe,” he said.
Rep. Jericho Nograles of the Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list questioned the derailment incident last April 17.
“This is not blame game. What we are trying to establish here is the safety issue,” he said.
Both government and BURI must explain the incident on April 18 at 8 p.m. at the North Ave. Station, Quezon City, he said.
The MRT line 3 train’s gear had snapped, causing the train’s derailment.
