DOTC eyes 2nd hand trains from Spain

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has deferred anew the public bidding for the supply of new trains for the 17-kilometer Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 operating along EDSA as it reviews the offer made by Metro de Madrid of Spain to provide second hand light rail vehicles.

DOTC undersecretary for planning Rene Limcaoco issued General Bid Bulletin 03-2013 extending the deadline for the submission of bids for the MRT-3 capacity expansion project.

“In consideration of the DOTC review of the Metro de Madrid offer to supply second-hand trains, the submission and opening of bids for the project is extended from April 30 to May 30,” Limcaoco stated in the bulletin dated April 23.

This is the third time that the DOTC has postponed the deadline for the submission and opening of bids originally scheduled last March 22.

The date for the submission and opening of bids was postponed to April 15 and then to April 30 as the DOTC decided to give bidders more time to prepare their documents.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier said the DOTC is also closely looking at acquiring second hand trains from Spain and has dispatched a three-man team to check the condition of the trains being offered by Metro de Madrid.

The DOTC also received a proposal from the government of Czech Republic to sell trains to the Philippine government under a concessional loan scheme through overseas development assistance (ODA).