DOTr buying signalling spare parts for MRT-3 line from Canadian firm

February 9, 2018

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Friday it entered into a memorandum of understanding with Canadian company Bombardier Transportation to urgently buy signaling spare parts and signaling maintenance for the MRT-3 line.

Bombardier  designed, supplied, commissioned, and maintained the MRT-3 signaling system for its first 12 years of operations.

The memorandum was signed between Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade and officials from Bombardier with Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John Holmes.

Bombardier is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and proprietary rights owner of the Cityflo 250 Light Rail and Metro Signaling Solution, the signaling system used in the MRT-3 system.

Under the deal, the DOTr will procure an OEM signaling spare parts and 2-year signaling maintenance contract from Bombardier via direct contracting and emergency procurement, pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

This procurement mode was used since Bombardier is the proprietary source of MRT-3's Cityflo 250 signaling system, and given the immediate need to restore MRT-3's reliability and availability, which is a vital public service and infrastructure facility.

“For years, among the top 3 most frequent causes of MRT-3 breakdowns are signaling-related issues. For years, non-OEM signaling spare parts were used and installed, in an effort to save on costs and increase profit at the expense of MRT-3's safety and reliability,” said Tugade.

“For years, MRT-3's signaling system was not maintained properly, and was not upgraded when due. That is why this time, we want to be sure that we get the right spare parts and that we maintain the system right, ” Tugade added.

In November last year, the DOTr terminated its contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) as the MRT-3’s maintenance provider, citing BURI’s failure to perform its maintenance obligations and procure spare parts.

MRT-3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serves over 500,000 passengers a day, beyond its rated capacity of 350,000.

Eight trains have been operating daily along Edsa for nearly a week due to breakdowns. DMS