By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Sept. 8 (PNA) — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) announced on Monday the creation of a team “to shadow” the current Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3 maintenance provider, APT Global (Autre Porte Technique Global Inc.), after its contract was extended last week.
In a press conference, DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said that the maintenance transition team will be composed of MRT-3 and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) personnel.
“We issued a special order putting up a maintenance transition team composed of MRT-3 and LRTA personnel to start shadowing the current maintenance provider,” Abaya said.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to learn,” he added. “All arguments are on our side to allow shadowing. If we decide that it is better to do it ourselves, we are in the position to exercise that right.”
By “shadowing,” Abaya meant that the department would follow and observe the maintenance provider if in case the government decides to take over (MRT maintenance).
The DOTC chief explained that the joint team will do a “parallel” of what the maintenance provider is currently doing for the MRT-3.
“If in case government decides that we are better off taking over maintenance before awarding the next maintenance provider, we would be in a position to do so,” Abaya said.
“It will be up to the government to (decide) whether to fully take over,” he added.
Abaya also noted that APT Global could also face Php27.1-million worth of penalty charges for the first six months as incumbent maintenance provider if they fail to carry out their tasks at hand.
To recall, the DOTC announced having extended the APT Global’s maintenance contract on a month-to-month basis last Sept. 4. As agreed upon in the contract, the provider will continue to receive Php 57-million.
At present, the DOTC is currently in the process of bidding out a Php2.25-billion, three-year contract for the MRT-3 new system’s maintenance. Potential bidders have until Oct. 13 to submit their offers.
Meanwhile, the contract is set to be awarded by December.
Instead of a one-year contract, the DOTC will extend it to three years to attract large maintenance providers with greater expertise, the agency earlier said. (PNA)