By Rosalie C. Periabras | The ManilaTimes | July 16, 2015

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded the contract for the maintenance of 34 escalators and 32 elevators of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) system to International Elevator & Equipment, Inc. (IEEI).

 Under the P8.17 million contract, IEEI will be responsible for the upkeep of the MRT-3 escalators and elevators over the next six months.

Train riders, particularly senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disability (PWDs), can expect a more convenient commuting experience with this conveyance maintenance deal, the DOTC said.

The contract requires IEEI to maintain the Mitsubishi-brand conveyance facilities as the brand’s exclusive distributor of elevators and escalators, the agency said.

Meanwhile, for longer-term improvement efforts, contracts for the rehabilitation of the 34 escalators and the replacement of the 32 elevators are already being procured, the DOTC said. As for the 12 Schindler-brand escalators, a maintenance contract was no longer procured as a six-month rehabilitation contract was awarded to Jardine Schindler instead.

In recent weeks, the DOTC has awarded six-month maintenance contracts for the other components of the MRT-3, namely: rolling stocks, depot equipment, and signaling, rail tracks and permanent ways, buildings and facilities, communication systems, ticketing systems and the power supply and overhead catenary systems.

The DOTC said these undertakings to enhance maintenance works and to restore facilities are part of the DOTC’s thrust to provide the public with safe, convenient, and reliable railway systems and to address the widespread backlog in MRT-3 improvements over the past 11 years.