Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded the contract for the fifth of the seven upkeep components of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).
The P131 million contract for the maintenance of the MRT-3’s rolling stock will be handled by joint venture Schunk Bahn-und Industrietechnik GmbH (SBI) and Comm Builders & Technology Phils. Corp. (CB&T) starting July 5.
SBI is a German company specializing in industrial and railway power transmission equipment, while the Filipino-owned CB&T is part of another joint venture currently maintaining the LRT-1.
Related: DOTC awards MRT contracts to two APT Global affiliates
According to the DOTC, the component is the largest of the maintenance requirements which covers the trains, signaling system, and maintenance equipment.
Multi-disciplinary approach
The move to divide the upkeep of the MRT-3 is in line with the DOTC’s multi-disciplinary mode, aimed at enhancing efficiency.
Related: MRT to tap several firms to handle maintenance
Two previous attempts to bid out a long-term maintenance contract both resulted in failure due to the non-participation of bidders, leading to the current request for permission from the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) to proceed with an alternative mode of procurement.
MRT Holdings II Inc., which owns Metro Rail Transit Corp., the private owner of the MRT-3, however, disapproved of the move arguing that it is better to have a single point of responsibility.
Related: MRT chief blames contractor for train mess
But the DOTC clarified that this is just a temporary solution and that the end goal is to have a stable three-year contract with a single maintenance provider.
Contracts won under this mode lasts for six months. The four other components were awarded to the following companies:
Rail tracks and permanent ways: Jorgman-Korail-Erin Marty JV
Buildings and facilities: Global Epcom Services, Inc.
Communication systems: Trilink Technologies, Inc.
Ticketing system: Future Logic Corporation
The two other components still for procurement are the power supply and overhead catenary system and the conveyance systems.
Other upgrades
Other improvements in the MRT-3 include the arrival of the prototype for the new train coaches by mid-August. According to the DOTC, three train coaches will be delivered per month beginning in the end of January 2016, until the delivery of all 48 units is completed.
It also announced that the first batch of the railway’s conveyance systems, covering 12 escalators, will be rehabilitated by a new contractor within the next 6 months, while refurbishment of the remaining 34 escalators and 32 elevators is also up for procurement.
