The Department of Transportation said Monday it will review all Light Rail Transit Line 2 rehabilitation projects after the Light Rail Transit Authority filed corruption complaints against some of its officials and private contractors.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also directed the blacklisting of the joint venture of Ma-an Construction Inc. and IFE Elevators Inc. for the alleged delivery of substandard escalators in LRT-2 and Kempal Construction Supply Corp. for the alleged delivery of substandard equipment such as re-railing and diagnostic tools.
“This investigation has long been delayed. Initiate it now and let us make the culprits pay,” Tugade said.
The LRTA said it discovered that the 13 escalators installed at the line’s Recto Station were operating below the required carrying capacity during the renewal of its certificate to operate. The required capacity under the contract was 9,000 passengers per hour, but the installed escalators could accommodate only 6,000 passengers per hour.
It said of the 13 escalators installed, only one remained operational, with the rest having broken down before the expiration of the warranty period.
“We cannot afford to see our passengers especially the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women suffering because of the wrongdoing of the LRTA officials and contractor,” LRTA officer-in-charge Paul Chua said.
The LRTA said on the contract for re-railing equipment, a crate containing re-railing equipment was said to have a sticker printout identifying it as having been shipped by Chinese firm CRRC Corp. as ordered by winning bidder Kempal Construction and Supply Corp. However, it turned out that the crate contained equipment came from Bemco, an Indian company.
“If only the involved officials have exercised timely due diligence, public funds should not have been spent needlessly,” Chua said.
The LRTA said it had not yet accepted the equipment which prevented payment to the supplier, Kempal-Dafang JV.
“The filing of cases is in support of the anti-corruption efforts of the Duterte administration and DOTr Secretary Art Tugade’s call to provide comfort and to protect the interest of the riding public,” Chua said.
Included in the complaints are Engr. Fernando Quiambao, former LRTA head executive assistant and project implementation officer; Antonio Laigo Jr., (LRT-2 operations department manager and designated representative to the PS-DBM bids and awards committee; Engr. Julito Bernales, manager at Project Management Office for Rehabilitation Projects ; LRTA engineer Rommel Correa and former LRTA employee Engr. Robert Ruiz.
Charges were also filed against private constructors Kempal Construction and Supply Corp. and the joint venture of Ma-an Construction and IFE Elevators.