By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Sept 14 (PNA) — The Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC), led by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and Ayala Corporation, took over the operations and maintenance of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) over the weekend.
In a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Monday (Sept. 14), LRMC said that it assumed control from the LRT Authority (LRTA) over the LRT-1 operations and maintenance on Sept. 12 (Saturday).
LRMC is the concessionaire for the O&M as well as the extension of LRT-1. It will operate and maintain LRT-1 for 32 years.
Once LRMC extends LRT-1, the system will stretch 32.4 kilometers (from its current 20.7 kilometers) from Muñoz, Quezon City to Bacoor, Cavite (from its current endpoint at Baclaran).
LRMC said that it would take time to fix the fleet and restore the system to optimal operating levels since out of the 100 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) committed to be delivered to LRMC upon take-over, only approximately 77 of the LRVs are in running condition.
The new trains are delivered by the government as part of its obligations under the Concession Agreement. The trains are scheduled to arrive in 2017, barring any delays.
Works will start with improvements in the facilities on all the stations for the safety and security of customers. Nine of the eleven substations are also scheduled for rehabilitation to help ensure more reliable train services.
LRMC chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, in a statement, welcomed this latest development.
“After months of preparation, we are pleased to take on the operations of LRT 1,” Pangilinan said.
“We consider the DOTC and LRTA to be our partners in this project, and will work to improve the Line over time, and make it a system that our commuters will not only enjoy riding, but one they can be truly proud of,” he added.
Ayala Corp. Chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, meanwhile, expressed excitement over working with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the LRTA.
“We are excited to work with our partners MPIC, Macquarie, the DOTC and the LRTA. Both the government and the private sector have commitments to meet under the concession framework,” Ayala said.
“It is imperative that we work together to ensure the successful delivery of this project for the benefit of the riding public,” he added.
LRT1 serves approximately half a million passengers today. The extension will serve future high growth centers in the South like Cavite.(PNA)