Bob Sobrepena Message To All Filipinos: This Is The Truth #ViralInternetLinks
Now that Bob Sobrepena’s out in the open in heralding the ownership of MRT3 train system, should a reply is needed from DOTC to clear things out? Let’s wait and see for this “drama of the decade” to unfold something interesting here.
But, if the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) won’t give any reply and still keeping Bob Sobrepena out of the loop? Or, still, the planned buyout of MRT3’s on-going and working it out to finalize other entities for this endeavor? Maybe, the DOTC needed an ample time to prove why they’re doing this to MRTC; because of the case in Singapore, iron-out MRT3 management and services, waiting for new coaches and gaining more than 80% of the economic interests in MRTC.
According to Bob Sobrepena, “While government bought 80% of the economic interests in MRTC, it is not the same thing as buying ownership of the train system. The original private investors, through MRT Holdings, comosed of Fil-Estate group of the Sobrepena’s, Ayala Land, Anglo Phil Holdings, Ramcar Inc, Greenfield Development Corp, Antel Land Holdings and DBH Inc. still claim to be the ones who own the train system. MRT Holdings still own shares of MRTC and even managed to sue the government over the purchase of new trains.
The media interview of Bob Sobrepena tells something positive about the future of MRT3 or just reaching out the DOTC about privatization and pushing the PPP of the government? For sure, the government’s watching this interview.
It’s a fact that Bob Sobrepena still favors the privatization because Fil-Estate group of the Sobrepena’s at the MRT Holdings. His intention to open up publicly is to reach out the government of MRT Holdings position in the MRT3 ownership. In addition, because the DOTC didn’t recognize him starting in the year 2012 or maybe because, he sued the government for not following the BLT Agreement? That’s why the string was broken between them? In the first place, both the government and the private investors are to blame for the woes faced by commuters. Over the years, the BLT contract and the privatization policy have caused unbearable burden on commuters and taxpayers. The truly sad part is that government, while seeking to “buy-out” the MRT, still seeks to privatize it eventually, bringing us back to where we started. And why the government has a plan to this? How about continuing the buyout and uplifting the MRT3 services of the taxpayers? Government must not stopped on its role of providing total service to the public, even though Filipinos continue to call on government to stamp out corruption within its operations.
For the betterment of our country, the government must have leaders to lead good example and can do their jobs excellently for the service to the people. This MRT3 problem could be avoided, even at the onset of the project, when everybody only follows the etiquette of dealing government business contracts.
I attached the media interview of Bob Sobrepena by Ms. Karen Davila of ABS-CBN for total understanding of the subject matter.
Public Hearing on MRT Incident And Continuous Train System Breakdowns #ViralInternetLinks
After the Senate hearing last September 1, 2014 was about the derailment of train coaches last August 13, 2014, and, was looking into the constant train breakdowns which caused the riding public to question the management of MRT3. Being said, that the probe makes the government officials to extend their strategy by way of interpolating the suggestions done by the Senators.
Some of the concerned political people are questioning the integrity of the present maintenance company that won the bidding through the effort of former MRT3 Manager Al Vitangcol and Wilson T. de Vera. The said contract was allegedly and totally manipulated even the company had not enough funds in maintaining this kind of train system at MRT3.
The DOTC entered into a negotiated procurement to replace Sumitomo. It hired the Philippine Trams Rail Management and Services Corp. (PH Trams) and Comm Builders and Technology Inc. (CB&T) joint venture as interim maintenance provider for a monthly service fee of $1.15 million. The existing maintenance provider Global Autre Porte Technique won the bidding for the one-year maintenance contract worth P712.7-million which raised the eyebrows of politically inclined groups.
The MRTC, as owner of the MRT3 system, should be the one to hire the maintenance service provider and government’s role under the build-lease-transfer agreement is to pay for the service. The MRTC hired Japanese firm Sumitomo Corp. to maintain the MRT3 system for its first 10 years and its contract was extended for two years. Sumitomo Corp., which built the MRT3 system, reportedly charged the government $2.1 million on a monthly basis.
And, MRTC as owners, the trains should be maintained properly. If they are maintained properly, they will run properly. When it was Sumitomo that maintained it for 12 years, it was already servicing 500,000 commuters a day . The waiting time was fine and the lines are short. But at present, commuters did sacrifice for their way of life through the unwanted decision-making of DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya which for sure, doesn’t have enough expertise to manage the MRT3-EDSA .
The DOTC and MRTC were moving in separate directions which resulted to damage the image of the whole management. Because of its negative image done by MRT3 Manager Al Vitangcol and Wilson T. de Vera, the present situation became worst and continuously damages the whole operation. At that time, there’s a scarcity of “technically competent and financially capable” contractors since the government took on the role of bidding out the maintenance contract in 2012, in which, the resulted outcome has been appearing all the time.
Because of the Senate hearing feedbacks to DOTC Secretary, government’s eventual plan of privatizing the operation and maintenance of the MRT3 system is preventing the DOTC from bidding out a longer maintenance contract.
Their purpose could be shown with all their actions to carry out the full services intended for the riding public and to erase the negative aspects of their management at MRT3.
Another bid must be carried out by the DOTC, but other government officials were against by their action. Instead they wanted the MRTC to do the contract because of the BLT Agreement.
What will happen for the next chapter of the MRT3 story? Is there another hearing for former MRT3 Manager Al Vitangcol and Wilson T. de Vera? Let’s wait and see.
DOTC Or MRTC, Who's To Blame For The MRT3 Train System Breakdowns? #ViralInternetLinks
The breakdown problems of MRT3 train system continued to appear in every facets of its operation along EDSA. Last Saturday, August 23, due to a breakdown of its radio communications system and compelled to suspend the operations. The technical issue comes over a week after the derailing of an MRT3 train reportedly caused by human error, and is the latest in a long line of problems hounding the train system operations.
These breakdowns damaged the image of DOTC as compared to MRTC according to the perception of some Filipinos who didn’t even know what was happening behind the management of MRT3.
The riding public always on the lookout asking for the total service coming from MRT3 management in which, the MRTC should do their share of maintaining the train system. Besides, the government, through the DOTC appeared to tackle the problems in the eyes of the media and all the Filipino people.
For the time being, while the DOTC’s planning for the buyout, and making every move to compromise with its decision, the government must organize an agreement with MRTC for its proper renewal of terms or other ways to iron-out problems.
According to the history of this project, the Philippines subsidiary of Metro Rail, Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), was formed for the purpose of designing, constructing, testing, commissioning, and maintaining the EDSA Rail Transit III, Phase-1 system. An Accession Undertaking and an Assignment and Assumption Agreement was executed which gave MRTC all rights and obligations to the Project agreements during the debt repayment period and establish MRTC as the Project borrowing entity.
The Build-Lease-Transfer (BLT) Agreement which governs the relationship of Department of Transportation and Commission (DOTC) and Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) in building the said MRT3 Project. As all the terms in those prior agreements were superseded by the provisions of the BLT Agreement.
Their relationship was damaged when MRTC filed an arbitration case against the government in Singapore court because of non-payment of rentals, in which, according to MRTC, DOTC’s obligation to pay the rent in regards to BLT Agreement.
The government said, it has paid MRTC P35.2 billion since 2000. And since that time, MRTC did not provide new coaches or upgraded some train systems because the government through DOTC did not pay its rent promptly while the maintenance of the train system was in the verged of collapse up to this day.
The DOTC and MRTC couldn’t do much for the time being but to compromise their position in binding agreement to carry out their obligations to give excellent service to the riding public. Their relationship’s not a hindrance in developing the train system for the good of everyone.
The MRT3-EDSA needs maintenance experts and trained employees in forwarding the train operations. This case does not need total management of the government, but a joint relationship is needed between MRTC and DOTC. They will unite their expertise in prolonging the mission of this project to the Filipino people.
While the government plans to acquire the management of the MRT3 and compromising other facets of the agreement with MRTC, the government awarded a P3.8-billion ($86.7 million) contract to Chinese company CNR Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Company of China to supply of 48 new light rail vehicles for MRT 3 in which MRTC filed another case for not letting the MRTC to deal with contracts. The DOTC has no right to acquire railway facilities for MRT3 alone, but it’s the obligation of MRTC to deal with, according to BLT Agreement.
So, the government must hasten its move to deal with different facets of the problems with regards to MRT3 operations, deals, contracts, agreements, financial, maintenance and management.
