Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy to be maintenance provider of MRT-3: Tugade

July 4, 2018

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE—Department of Transportation ( DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said Wednesday Japanese company Sumitomo-MHI ( Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) are expected to return and come on board in the next couple of months as the maintenance provider of MRT-3.

This comes after the exchange of Note Verbales in January 2018 between the governments of the Philippines and Japan, and advance discussions with Sumitomo-MHI on the MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project.

Signing of a loan agreement is targeted to happen this month, to be followed by mobilization of Sumitomo as maintenance provider of the MRT-3.

Tugade also reported  the independent audit and assessment for the entire MRT-3 system, including the 48 train cars from Dalian, China, has been completed.

In a press briefing at the National Government Administrative Center  in Capas, Tarlac earlier,  Tugade said results of the third party audit conducted by TUV Rheinland, a certified certifier, will be further discussed with representatives from Dalian Corp.

“The audit is finished. The report will be discussed with Dalian and please, don't pre-empt. When our talks finish, I will tell you the firm and final position on these trains,” Tugade told members of the media.

The safety audit, which started on January 3, 2018, will determine the extent of rehabilitation works that needed to be done on the MRT-3.

It also looked into the condition of the new Dalian coaches, and whether they are in accordance with the Terms of Reference, among others.

“Is the evaluation showing that the submission is complete and in accordance to the TOR? Answer is no. Is the non-compliance substantive and prejudicial to safety and comfort of passengers? That we will find out during the discussion with Dalian ,” said Tugade.

  DMS