Firm seeks arbitration over rights to MRT-3 ads

MANILA, Philippines - A private firm involved in a dispute over exclusive advertising rights over the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 has filed for arbitration proceedings.

Bing Kimpo, corporate communications head of media company Trackworks, said their filing for arbitration was in line with a recent Pasig City regional trial court ruling that directed it and the MRT Development Corp. (Devco) to work out their differences amicably.

The Pasig court had also ordered a stay in the proceedings, which Trackworks said meant that it still has the exclusive rights to put up advertisements along MRT-3.

Trackworks said its roster of MRT advertisers remains intact and major advertisers, including the leading multinational media-buyers, have already renewed their contracts.

The Pasig court earlier issued the MRT Devco a show cause order over its recent moves to assume control of the placement and selling of ad space on the EDSA-bound MRT stations and trains.

Trackworks, in a motion filed recently, alleged that MRT Devco was defying a status quo order of the Pasig court when it pursued efforts to communicate with the advertiser-clients of Trackworks.  – Rainier Allan Ronda