The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) started yesterday to conduct the due diligence and system audit for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) to determine what rehabilitation and restoration works need to be undertaken to bring in improvements to the train system.
In a statement yesterday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said a team of more than 50 railway engineers and experts from JICA started the due diligence and system audit of the MRT-3.
The system audit is being undertaken as the rehabilitation and restoration works for the MRT-3 would be undertaken by a JICA-nominated rehabilitation and maintenance provider that will be mobilized in May.
JICA’s system audit is different from the one being conducted by TUV Rheinland which was awarded by the DOTr the contract for the independent audit and assessment consultant for the entire MRT-3 system, including the 48 train cars from CRRC Dalian Co. Ltd.
TUV Rheinland expected to complete the audit by April.
“We obviously need all the help we can get and we are very grateful that the Japanese Government answered our call for assistance to rehabilitate and restore the MRT-3 system,” TJ Batan, DOTr officer-in-charge undersecretary for railways said.
He also said passengers could expect additional trains for the MRT-3 within the month as the first batch of spare parts ordered last December are scheduled to be delivered and installed this month.
The spare parts have a delivery lead time of 30 days to six months.
“We created a Special Bids and Awards Committee for MRT-3 to address the urgent need to restore its service, which require the expedited procurement of spare parts, among others,” Batan said.
At present, the DOTr is implementing a four-point strategy to rehabilitate and restore the MRT-3 system which spans North Ave. station in Quezon City until Taft station in Pasay City, and carries 500,000 passengers daily.
In particular, it started with promoting accountability through the termination of the contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), the former maintenance provider for the MRT-3 in November last year for failure to meet the performance indicators which include number of trains running, as well as inability to procure spare parts.
After the termination of BURI’s contract, the DOTr decided to pursue continued service delivery by setting up a maintenance transition team to maintain the MRT-3 while a new and qualified service provider is being procured.
In a statement yesterday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said a team of more than 50 railway engineers and experts from JICA started the due diligence and system audit of the MRT-3.
The system audit is being undertaken as the rehabilitation and restoration works for the MRT-3 would be undertaken by a JICA-nominated rehabilitation and maintenance provider that will be mobilized in May.
JICA’s system audit is different from the one being conducted by TUV Rheinland which was awarded by the DOTr the contract for the independent audit and assessment consultant for the entire MRT-3 system, including the 48 train cars from CRRC Dalian Co. Ltd.
TUV Rheinland expected to complete the audit by April.
“We obviously need all the help we can get and we are very grateful that the Japanese Government answered our call for assistance to rehabilitate and restore the MRT-3 system,” TJ Batan, DOTr officer-in-charge undersecretary for railways said.
He also said passengers could expect additional trains for the MRT-3 within the month as the first batch of spare parts ordered last December are scheduled to be delivered and installed this month.
The spare parts have a delivery lead time of 30 days to six months.
“We created a Special Bids and Awards Committee for MRT-3 to address the urgent need to restore its service, which require the expedited procurement of spare parts, among others,” Batan said.
At present, the DOTr is implementing a four-point strategy to rehabilitate and restore the MRT-3 system which spans North Ave. station in Quezon City until Taft station in Pasay City, and carries 500,000 passengers daily.
In particular, it started with promoting accountability through the termination of the contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), the former maintenance provider for the MRT-3 in November last year for failure to meet the performance indicators which include number of trains running, as well as inability to procure spare parts.
After the termination of BURI’s contract, the DOTr decided to pursue continued service delivery by setting up a maintenance transition team to maintain the MRT-3 while a new and qualified service provider is being procured.
