DOTr says Sumitomo still on the table as MRT3 service provider

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday clarified that Japan-based Sumitomo Corp. is still on the table as the service provider of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3).

“The DOTr has not been advised by Sumitomo Corporation that they have declined to come back as the maintenance service provider for MRT3,” it said in a text message to reporters.

“On the contrary, high level discussions are ongoing with potential qualified and experienced partners who can provide the maintenance requirements of MRT3, including Sumitomo Corporation and its technical partner, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to MRT3,” it added.

The statement comes after one of its officials, Assistant Secretary Elvira Medina — Assistant Secretary for Commuter Affairs — said Sumitomo declined to return as the maintenance provider of the rail line.

“Totoo po na sana Sumitomo, pero Sumitomo po mismo ang umayaw. Maaaring may ibang dahilan sila kung bakit hindi nila ginusto," she said in an interview on GMA News' "News to Go."

According to the DOTr, they are currently looking at the possible options.

“Finding an interim maintenance service provider for MRT3 in the medium-term, and an operations and maintenance concessionaire in the long-term, are some of the measures that the DOTr is taking to restore MRT3’s operational reliability for its 500,000 daily riders,” it said. — RSJ, GMA News