MANILA – Besides funding infrastructure projects for the Build Build Build projects of the Duterte administration, the Japanese government has committed to help rehabilitation of the MRT3, the daily breakdowns of which have come to symbolize the dismal state of mass transportation in the country.
According to Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, the government of Japan had also helped bring back Sumitomo Corp. to do the rehabilitation and maintenance works at MRT3.
Tugade said the spare parts for MRT3 were ordered in December, and are expected to arrive this March.
Once the spare parts are in, the Japanese firm Sumitomo and its technical partner, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, will come in to start work on the MRT.
Tugade flew Monday to Mactan, Cebu along with the economic managers and key Cabinet officials for the 4th High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation Meeting.
Tugade couldn’t hide his frustration at the many problems plaguing the MRT3, while pointing out that the mess was a legacy of the previous administration.
Besides buying the spare parts and rehabilitating MRT3, the government will evaluate the unsolicited proposal of the MVP Group for the equity and maintenance of MRT3– an offer that government will likely open to a Swiss Challenge.
