What Would be the Future of MRT 3?

The government wants to take over the Metro Rail Transit Line 3. They have been partners with MRT Corp. for 15 years, but now they want to be the sole operator of the MRT 3. They did not explain what’s their motive why they are doing this? Our government is known for being playing safe. They are selling some government properties to avoid any hassle in the operation of their asset. As a matter of fact, they already privatized some public hospital, schools, etc. That’s why other people are wondering with their action. Why they don’t also take over gasoline companies to ease the burden of Filipino people?

According to the reports, by the 3^rd quarter of 2014, Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Abaya is very confident that they could execute all of their plans. Hmm, that’s too near, so how they can beat with their target deadline? It seems that the DOTC is a contestant in a marathon. But MRTC didn’t agree with the plan of the government. Before they could implement it, they should face the mess they had caused with their partner. MRTC filed a suit against them in the arbitration tribunal in Singapore because their action is illegal based on their agreement. It is against with the 1999 BLT agreement that they had signed. It tells that the MRTC has the right to operate the MRT and one of their duties is to choose the contractor for the EDSA rail line. So, why the government made a bidding process for the MRT? They chose Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. as their sole bidder to supply them 48 rail coaches.  This project contract cost 4.5 billion pesos. They didn’t even consult MRTC regarding this matter. But if the whole project is concern, it has an estimated cost of 56 billion pesos and they will get it to our national budget in 2015.

The public has a doubt if the government could improve the MRT 3 because they don’t show any concrete plan how they handle it properly. This trail transit has many problems to be solved. Does the additional 48 coaches to improve the MRT system or this is just a part of it? How they can solve the problem on its ticketing system, the security issue, etc? If they are serious with their plan, they should compromise with the affected private sector.  Next time they would not want to become a partner of the government because after they helped them, they will be ignored in the end.