DOTC: MRTC liable for failure to add new coaches

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications on Thursday reiterated that the Metro Rail Transit Corporation should be made liable for failing to add the 48 new Light Rail Vehicles to the MRT 3 system.

The DOTC issued the statement  as it is expected to present its case before the Makati City Regional Trial Court this afternoon regarding the 20-day Temporary Protection Order issued to the Metro Rail Transit Holdings II Inc. last January 30, stopping the department from to acquiring the LRVs.

While having no contractual relationship, the DOTC maintained that the company should be held accountable for its failure to add much-needed train coaches to the rail line, after it claimed to own 100 percent of MRTC.

"Passenger safety and convenience demand that the project proceed immediately.  MRTC has received over P35.2 billion in equity rental payments since 2000.  Yet it has added zero LRVs, knowing full well that MRT-3 has been operating beyond capacity for years.  MRT Holdings II must answer the obvious question: why hasn’t it added LRVs to MRT-3 all this time?"DOTC spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal said.

The rail transit line has an original design capacity of only 350,000 passengers per day. 

According to the current MRT-3 data, it is already averaging 560,000 passengers daily, and its highest recorded number of single-day riders reached 620,000.

"Those are the numbers: P 35.2 Billion paid to MRTC; more than 560,000 passengers daily; zero trains added to the system.  Despite all of this, MRT Holdings II is asking the court to stop the DOTC from improving MRT-3’s services," Sagcal added.