Transportation chief laments TRO vs additional MRT coaches

Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The long lines at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) won’t be solved anytime soon. At least while the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is being prohibited from buying additional coaches for the line.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Wednesday lamented the recent Makati Regional trial Court order temporarily halting the purchase of 48 light rail vehicles from China-based Dalian Locomotives.

“That’s what I don’t understand. After we tackled the issue of long lines of passengers, after searching for a solution and looking forward to the future of our rail network suddenly there’s this order,” Abaya said in Filipino over Radio Inquirer 990AM.

The 20-day temporary order of protection was issued in response to a petition filed by the Metro Rail Transit Corp. questioning the DOTC’s contract with Dalian Locomotive.

The MRTC said the DOTC entered a build, lease and transfer (BLT) agreement with them and should give them “preferential right to supply” in accordance to their contract. The court upheld their argument, saying that the MRTC had neither breached its obligation or gave its consent to the DOTC to purchase coaches from another company.

But Abaya said they will answer the case in court and prove the legality of their actions.

“Definitely we will answer the complaint and we will explain why they shouldn’t block efforts like this to improve public service,” he said.

Abaya said Dalian Locomotive will supply them with 48 new coaches, 18 of which will be delivered in the next 18 months. All the light train vehicles should be delivered in another 18 months or before June 2016, if possible.

The transportation chief confirmed that the DOTC is working to buyout the MRT so the government can operate it on its own.