New light rail vehicles for MRT-3 to remain unused for next three years

About 48 new light rail vehicles (LRVs) for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) would be unserviceable for at least three years, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Cesar Chavez said Tuesday.

"Ang problema ng Dalian train, this is P3.8 billion, hindi magamit sapagkat walang signaling system," Chavez said in an interview on Hirit ni Mareng Winnie aired on Unang Hirit.

"Hanggang ngayon ang kanilang billing ay nasa aking mesa at hindi pa ho natin binabayaran. Even assuming naayos ang signaling system, hindi po magagamit ang 48 trains na ito nang buong-buo sa halos loob ng tatlong taon," he added.

The LRVs were purchased from China's Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. for P3.8 billion. The maintenance contract, meanwhile, costing P3.8 billion, was signed with the Korean firm Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI).

Chavez explained that these trains would not be able to service MRT-3 passengers due to the contract of the previous administration specifying that at least 60 old trains will function during peak hours.

"Sapagkat pumasok ang kontrata 'yung nakaraang namumuno dito na ginagarantihan na 'yung 60 out of 72 old trains ay dapat nasa linya during peak hours 6:30 to 9 ng umaga, 5 to 7 p.m. In other words, kung ang capacity ng train ay 20 sets lang, saan mo isasalpak ang Dalian train?" he said.

He also said that DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade has instructed them not to use the said LRVs even if its signaling system would be fixed.

"Sa panahon ko wala kaming binabayaran at maliwanag sa instruksyon ni Secretary Tugade, 'wag na 'wag gamitin even assuming na maayos ang signaling system, 'wag na 'wag gagamitin ito kung walang international independent party certificate," Chavez said.

More coaches

Meanwhile, Chavez said that they will increase the coaches configured in the MRT-3 line in November.

"'Yung tatlong bagon ay gawing apat na bagon. 'Yung platform natin ay naka-configure sa apat na bagon. Para mangyari ito, pumasok na tayo at si Secretary [Arthur] Tugade nag-utos na sa amin na i-increase ang capacity ng MRT para 'yung tatlong bagon ay maging apat na bagon. November 15, tapos na po 'yan," he said.

Chavez then emphasized that unloading incidents have fairly decreased as compared to the previous years.

"To be fair to everyone, nag-improve 'yung serbisyo. Dati 40 plus, 50 plus, 60 plus, ngayon ay 30 plus na lang. Happy ba kami ni Sec. Tugade? Hindi pa rin kami happy. 'Yung unloading incidents, 'yung pagbaba ng mga pasahero, hindi ho kami happy. Tulad ng mga mamamayan galit din kami sa mga ganitong sitwasyon," he said.

PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles earlier sought for a congressional probe on the said coaches that will remain unused. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News