Eagle News | May 3, 2017

Senator Grace Poe has called for an inquiry into, among others, the "reported inefficient management and maintenance" of the Metro Rail Transit 3, which she said results in "increasing incidents of train malfunctions."

In filing the three-page resolution calling for such, Poe noted that the MRT3 has experienced several "technical problems" such as "derailment, doors failing to close, and service interruptions," which lead to "increasing complaints from the public."

She noted that under a maintenance contract between the previous administration and Busan Universal Rail Inc., the latter is "required to maintain all 73 coaches and overhaul 43 of the same."

She said that since 2016, various media have already "reported about the anomalies" in the maintenance contract.

Under President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, she said the Department of Transportation sent two memoranda to BURI, asking it to explain why its P2.8-billion maintenance contract should not be rescinded for "nonperformance of the company since 2016."

Another problem

Poe said apart from this, the MRT was faced with "another problem"—the 48 new Light Rail Vehicles purchased from Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. of China that "would remain unusable because it has no signaling safety device that keeps safe distances between trains."

"Now therefore, be it resolved as it is hereby resolved, to direct the proper Senate committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation…," she said.