Sumitomo to return as MRT 3 maintenance provider

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Wednesday that it will rehire the services of Sumitomo Corporation for the maintenance of Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT).

DOTr has terminated the service provider Busan Universal Rail Inc. following frequent breakdowns of MRT trains.

The agreement between the Philippines and Japan for Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to operate once again is expected to be signed before year-end.

“Pursuant to the Philippines-Japan infrastructure development cooperation framework, discussions with the Government of Japan (GOJ) have progressed and an agreement is already scheduled to be signed before year-end,” the statement said.

Part of the contract is the “maintenance and rehabilitation service provider with an indicative term of 3 years.”

Sumitomo-Mitsubishi designed and built the past system of MRT 3 from the year 1998-2000 and maintained it from 2000-2012.