DOTr exec says use of new MRT-3 trains on hold, traffic to worsen from ‘Build, Build, Build’

The brand new Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) trains purchased by the Philippines from China will first have to undergo an independent third-party certification before they can be used, Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez said on Thursday.

"Maliwanag ang direksyon natin. Ang instruction ni [Transportation] Secretary [Arthur Tugade] hindi puwedeng patakbuhin 'yan sa linya hangga't walang independent third party certification, na 'yan ay safe, na ligtas gamitin sa linya," Chavez said in an interview on GMA's News to Go.

According to Chavez, out of 48 new coaches bought during the past administration, only 26 trains have signalling systems. Out of these 26, only four trains have so far undergone a test run.

He said an international company will be contracted to conduct an operational readiness test for four to five months on the new trains.

Chavez explained it takes 28 days to procure new trains, and after receipt of the notice to proceed, a technical and operational readiness test will next be conducted for three months.

Chavez stressed the importance of thoroughly testing the new trains first considering these were manufactured by CRRC Dalian Co., LTD., which had previously supplied trains to Singapore, Pakistan, and Hong Kong. A number of those trains were later found to be defective.

"Kung may pangyayaring ganito sa tatlong bansa, the same supplier, lalo kaming nag-iingat... Hindi natin isa-sacrifice ang safety, ang kaligtasan ng publiko dito sa mga bagon na to," he said.

Of the 72 coaches currently running, 43 are being "overhauled" to extend their lives for another 10 to 15 years.

Chavez refused to divulge results of the DOTr's review of the contracts for the new trains, saying he did not want to "pre-empt" the announcement of the Office of the Transportation Undersecretary for Legal Affairs.

Traffic to worsen

Chavez admitted that traffic might worsen while the Duterte administration carries out its "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure project.

Under the project, railway lines as long as 990 kilometers will have to be installed — from Manila to Los Banos, Manila- Clark, Bicol Calamba-Batangas — because only 33 kilometers have been laid down in the last three decades.

Meanwhile, Chavez assured commuters that the subway to be built by a Japanese firm in the Philippines would be flood and earthquake-proof, and would be made using internationally accepted construction "protocols." — with Rafeea Custodio/MDM/KVD, GMA News