Binay camp slams DOTC’s ‘multidisciplinary’ MRT maintenance

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday criticized the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for its proposed multidisciplinary maintenance concept for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), saying it would be prone to corruption.

Binay spokesperson for political affairs Rico Quicho said Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, who invited him to discuss MRT woes over coffee, should instead ride the MRT with him and explain the department’s new approach to the maintenance of the railway system.

“Huwag na lang magkape. Sumakay na lang kami pareho sa MRT sa loob ng isang linggo. No security, no undersecretaries. Sasabay kami sa commuters na nakapila tuwing rush hour. Ipaliwanag niya ’yang multidisciplinary maintenance concept sa MRT commuters at ipapaliwanag ko ‘yong solusyon namin,” Quicho said in a statement.

“Abaya’s highfalutin ‘multidisciplinary approach’ to the MRT 3 maintenance, simply put, means more of the same corruption and ineptitude. And the number one beneficiary is the same company owned by a Liberal Party man,” he added.

Under DOTC’s multidsciplinary approach, seven different contractors will be in charge of maintaining rail tracks and permanent ways, rolling stock (coaches) and depot equipment, power supply and overhead catenary, conveyance systems (elevators and escalators), communications systems, single-ticketing systems, and buildings and facilities.

“Local and foreign train experts find this illogical and dangerous. Why break up the maintenance work into seven companies? There will be no more single point of responsibility. Kapag may aberya, kanya-kanyang turuan ang mangyayari,” Quicho said.

Citing information from DOTC, Quicho said the cost of the maintenance contract for the new setup will be doubled from its original cost of P51.75 million.

“Buildings and facilities … cost P23.35M. Yet this is the easiest to perform: Cleaning of the stations, nothing more. Magwawalis at magpapakintab ng sahig, P23.35 million agad. Easy money,” he said.

Bias to party mates?

Quicho also raised doubts over negotiated contractor Global Epcom, which he said was the new company of a certain Marlo de la Cruz, chair of longtime MRT contractor PH Trams.

Quicho referred to De la Cruz and his father as alleged “top fundraisers campaigners” for Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas and President Benigno Aquino III in Pangasinan in 2010.

“It goes without saying that Marlo de la Cruz is also close to Abaya; we were told he can get appointments for contractors to meet with the transport secretary,” Quicho said.

“Instead of dishing our highfalutin alibis for his failures in MRT, Secretary Abaya should explain why Marlo de la Cruz is so influential in the DOTC and why he gives out contracts to Liberal party mates,” he added.