The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has extended its rehabilitation and maintenance agreement for the MRT-3 rail line with Japanese firm Sumitomo Corp., the department announced Friday.
The two-year extension aims to ensure the “efficient and sustainable operations” of the rail line, a statement from the DOTr said.
The move follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide a safe and reliable rail system for the public.
The deal, signed by DOTr acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Sumitomo Corp. corporate officer and general manager Takeshi Noguchi, covers essential system upgrades, repairs and operational reliability for the MRT-3. The extension will ensure commuters have efficient and convenient rail services, with fewer breakdowns and shorter travel times.
Lopez lauded Sumitomo’s “undeniable capability” and expertise, noting the company completed the initial systems rehabilitation for the MRT-3 in December 2021 and has provided continuous maintenance services since.
“With Sumitomo, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Government of Japan by our side, we look forward to ensuring that MRT-3 continues to provide safe, reliable, and efficient service to our Filipino commuters,” Lopez said.
Since Sumitomo took over the rehabilitation and maintenance of the MRT-3 in 2019, the number of operational trains has increased from a low of seven in 2018 to a high of 22 in 2022. This has allowed up to 20 train sets to be deployed during peak hours.
