DOTC chief admits failure to improve MRT’s sorry state

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Despite the availability of funds, the government could not yet improve the conditions of many of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) escalators and elevators due to failed biddings, transport officials told a Senate hearing on Monday.

While 12 units of Schindler elevators are expected to be completed by December this year, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said there were 32 to 33 units of Mitsubishi elevators and escalators that needed to be replaced.

“Currently ay hawak yan ng procurement service DBM (Department of Budget and Management) at hinihintay naming matapos ang procurement nun at ma-award sa kung sinong contractor ang manalo,” Abaya said during the hearing of the Senate subcommittee on public services headed by Senator Grace Poe.

MRT 3 General Manager Roman Buenafe said the first round of bidding for elevators conducted three weeks ago failed, citing the “eligibility of documents submitted by two suppliers.

The bidding for escalators, on the other hand, is already undergoing “pre-procurement” stage, Buenafe added.

“Bakit po napakabagal? Kasi dapat ito nagamit na nyo ng 2015?” said Poe, who earlier pointed out that the project was already included in the 2015 budget.

She reminded that in 2014, DOTC Director for Operations Renato San Jose said that the elevators and escalators would be completed by the third quarter of 2015.

“So saan po tayo nabara na naman? DBM ba ito, hindi ba na release yung pera sa inyo? Hindi ba kayo makakuha ng pondo kaya di nyo nagawa?” Poe asked.

Responding to Poe, Abaya said: “Hindi Maa’m, I don’t think there’s any blame sa DBM sa release kasi na-release naman kaagad.”

“Again, yung failure of procurement ma’am. These things happen, and a failure of bid is a reality sa procurement natin,” said Abaya.

In the 2015 budget, Poe said P50 million was allocated specifically for MRT 3 escalators and elevators and another P50 million from the supplemental budget.

Buenafe pointed out that the budget was only for rehabilitation, and not procurement of new escalators and elevators.