MRT, LRT projects still on track

Stressing that President Arroyo is committed to fast tracking various railways projects to modernize the transport system in the country, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza vowed to expedite the completion of various Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).

"The DOTC as the lead agency is dedicated to complete all the MRT and LRT expansion projects to solve the country’s traffic problem and provide relief to the commuters," Mendoza said.

Mendoza dismissed as baseless the allegations by some quarters that the DOTC has been delaying the implementation of the MRT 7.

"Some lobby groups are using the media to pressure the DOTC to favor somebody, but we will not be affected by this as what we will consider here is the best interest of the country," Mendoza said.

The DOTC chief attributed the delay in the completion of the MRT 7 project to the issuance of a legal opinion by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Mendoza said he even issued Department Order 20002-71 last Dec. 5, 2002 for the reconstitution of the DOTC Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) for all projects under the rail sector.

"A new PBAC has just been created to implement rail projects, particularly the MRT 4 and MRT 7 projects, which have an eight-kilometer alignment conflict from EDSA to Batasan (Quezon City)," Mendoza said.

The PBAC, he said, serves as the official representative of the department in undertaking the negotiation process with the project proponents.

"The creation of PBAC is aimed at ensuring that the prequalification, bidding and evaluation process will result to a decision that will be advantageous to the government in terms of financial and technical requirements of the project," Mendoza said.

He said the 15.1-kilometer MRT 4 project, which runs from Manila to Quezon City via España and Commonwealth Avenues, was granted the "first pass" approval by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on Jan. 27, 1998.

On the other hand, Mendoza said, a revised MRT 7 proposal was submitted to the department in December 2001.

"There are other issues to be resolved, including technical compatibility between the two lines, the contractual arrangement and more importantly, the costs of the projects," Mendoza said.

He said that a technical working group (TWG) was also formed to assist in the review and evaluation of the tender documents and the proposals for the project.

"The TWG shall ensure that the requirements of the department have been met and the approved terms of reference have complied with the proponents," Mendoza said.