Senators support DOTR bid to have Sumitomo back for MRT maintenance

Yet another train breakdown forces MRT 3 riders to disembark and walk on the tracks toward the nearest station, in this Nov. 16 file photo. —Contributed photo by Sinag de Jesus

Two senators on Thursday welcomed the plan of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to bring back Sumitomo Corp. as maintenance provider for the problem-plagued Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3).

But Senators Grace Poe and Win Gatchalian also asked the DOTr to make sure the government would get the best deal in addressing the frequent breakdowns of the train system.

“Given the good track record of Sumitomo when it maintained the MRT for the first 12 years before the system went through a ‘teleserye’ of unfortunate events, the prospect of having a reputable maintenance provider back is encouraging and a step in the right direction,” said Poe, who as chair of the Senate chair of public services had called for inquiries into the MRT 3 mess.

But Poe reminded the DOTr that “Sumitomo may not be the only maintenance provider or even the best one.”

“Thus, the government must ensure that the terms of the contract for whichever provider is hired, are not disadvantageous to the people and should be Freedom of Information-compliant,” Poe said in a statement.

Gatchalian said Sumitomo, having a “respectable reputation in the industry, was equipped with the expertise to solve problems at MRT 3.

But it would be “best” for DOTr to just go for a short-term contract with Sumitomo, he added.

“The privatization of the MRT remains to be the most viable long-term option to improve its quality of service. A short-term contract with Sumitomo would be best, so that potential private buyers will be able to have a free hand regarding future maintenance operations,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

Sen. JV Ejercito had earlier pushed for the return of Sumitomo, which was involved in the construction and design of MRT 3 18 years ago.

“I am biased for Sumitomo since they have the experience with MRT, they have the track record and it is a reputable Japanese company,” he said.

On Nov. 29, the DOTr announced it was holding high-level talks with the Japanese government for Sumitomo and its technical partner, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to maintain and rehabilitate MRT 3 under a three-year agreement backed by a fresh loan from Japan.

The move by the DOTr came less than a month after it terminated the contract with the previous maintenance provider, Busan Universal Rail, halfway through its three-year agreement, citing the continued glitches and the company’s failure to meet certain obligations.