MRT-3 rehab work not delayed – DOTr

MANILA, Philippines — The rehabilitation of Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) was not delayed as it pushed through as scheduled last month, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.

“The project is not delayed. Only the payment was delayed, because of the delay in the enactment of the national budget. Nevertheless, we are moving according to our timeline,” DOTr Assistant Secretary for Communications Goddes Hope Libiran said in a text message.

Libiran issued this statement after MRT-3 head of operations Michael Capati earlier said the rehabilitation of the line was moved to May this year as some documents still had to be completed.

READ: MRT-3 rehab kickoff moved to May

“Sumitomo, in fact has been working with us since last year,” Libiran added.

Despite the delay on payments for the multi-billion project, the rehabilitation started in February, Libiran noted.

Capati, for his part, also clarified his earlier statement.

“There’s no delay in the project. There’s a delay on the budget and approval of (General Appropriations Act) 2019. We are working well with Sumitomo group and already made some transition plan,” he said in a text message.

The rehab work started with the line’s 72 coaches and will be undertaken by the Japanese consortium Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Corp. using the P18 billion loan from the Japanese government.

Rehabilitation of the line will also include the restoration and overhaul of the line’s power supply, overhead catenary system, signaling system, tracks, closed-circuit television camera and public address systems, as well as its elevators and escalators.  /muf

READ: PH, Japan sign loan agreement for 26-month MRT-3 rehab