Showing posts with label MRT3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MRT3. Show all posts
DOTC Secretary “Fatal” Remarks #ViralInternetLinks
While the unending drama of MRT3 never ceased to amaze us, Jun Abaya nevertheless noted the crucial importance of the extension project of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 to Masinag in Antipolo. The P2.27-billion project would help serve an added 75,000 daily passengers living in densely populated areas of Rizal. Operations will begin by the third quarter of 2017.
But the traffic congestion brought about by the mismanagement of MRT3, the riding public never ceased to wonder what’s happening to the DOTC Secretary. He was with this government service industry for a long time now with many negatives came to him without much flair.
Consequently, agreed to undertake the two-station approach for the proponents of LRT-1, LRT-7 and MRT-3 have yielded to the DOTC decision to adopt the two-station approach (instead of a single station) to effect the transfer of passengers from any of the three lines to any of the other two lines in order to proceed to their respective destinations.
Likewise, Jun Abaya’s “Fatal” remarks to the media gave more negative aspect of his character in rendering the outcome of his government jobs at the DOTC. And, he’s quick to reiterate in public without any remorse.
Why this is happening for the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) when the Aquino Administration truthfully opened its course to the public. The betterment of the living condition of the Filipinos that he installed upon had been corrupted by the opposition’s lethal weapon. For his last SONA, he never amazed to report the good things that he devoted to work for.
The rehabilitation of MRT3 had gone too far for Jun Abaya to give positive feedback to the people. It continued the messy part of its maintenance activities and the projected upgrade of the dilapidated metro rail.
The Senate tried to conduct another public hearing within the month to have an update of the DOTC report on MRT3. The Senate wanted to know the immediate actions that will be done to solve the mess in MRT. The public just deserves to know what DOTC has to say about it, since commuters are left as victims. Everyday complains on ridership experiences and defective trains are increasingly shared and promoted on social media.
The development that the riding public have always wanted was outdated by its constant breakdowns and problems occurred overtime. The maintenance companies that Jun Abaya had employs, composed of so many components to deal with such hard recourse. It supposedly to give ease and betterment for the metro rail system but maintenance people have difficulty in gaining the trust of the public.
Likewise, the Aquino Administration’s trying harder to confront the new horizons of its governance. Proving to be the best in each sectors of the society, they yielded much programs for pushing the improvement of the nation. The increased in GDP talked much for the administration to show the results to the people. More so, the election 2016 has its merits to continue the good side of the Aquino Administration and hoping the positive outcome for the work done by our leaders in the future.
The Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3-EDSA) is the cornerstone of the Department of Transportation & Communication's integrated strategy to alleviate the chronic traffic congestion experience along the EDSA corridor. The Metro Rail system is designed to carry in excess of 23,000 passengers per hour per direction, initially, and is expandable to accommodate 48,000 passengers per hour, per direction.
For years now, rapid growth of commuters and vehicles population have plagued Metro Manila, the center of Philippine socio-economic and political activity. Heavy traffic, pollution and all the attendant undesired results are problems that Metro Manila had to contend with daily.
EDSA's importance to the lives of more than eight million people - or 12 percent of the country's 68 million citizens who live in Metro Manila cannot be underestimated. Added to the metropolis' growing population are the transients and migrants who come to live in Metro Manila in search of opportunities. Every birth, transient or migrant, is a potential commuter who will likely join more than the 2.8 million people already using EDSA.
At worse, heavy traffic is taking its toll on the nation's social and economic build-up. Traffic in Metro Manila is expected to nearly resemble nerve-wracking conditions in Bangkok, Thailand and in other parts of the world. Experts agree that a long term solution, beyond just keeping vehicles off the streets, is imperative. One of the solutions that the government sponsored was the establishment of the EDSA MRT3 System.
For the past years, MRT3 got what it takes to be the beaming lights of DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya. He moulded the management and operations to the best of his knowledge and reasons. Despite of it, he dangled his pride to become one of the government officials who put forward this MRT3 into devastating state.
The Senate was making a wave by questioning the MRT3 complete buyout of the DOTC. More sectors are claiming the buyout as a ploy of the government for other ulterior motives? But, as what the DOTC’s planning to the MRT3 development, the 2015 budget could help, according to Secretary Jun Abaya. And, implemented the fare hike for its development?
What happened then? Why constant breakdowns still feasible even to this date? Is there hidden agenda or vested interest on the part of the DOTC Secretary?
Let’s begin with his pronouncement that the DOTC has allotted P81.5 million to procure 608 pieces of new 12-meter steel rails for MRT 3. Pending the awarding of the contract and the supply of the new rails, the MRT 3 is borrowing spare rails from the LRT 2 due to its depleted stocks of spare rails. The ways for these maintenance needed means it’s not totally monitor to provide the proper security to the train commuters. In fact, more breakdowns are recorded and needs immediate solutions.
Aside from the rail replacement, the government is also procuring a new maintenance contractor for the MRT 3 line. The DOTC has recently increased the approved budget for the three-year MRT 3 maintenance contract to P2.4 billion from P2.2 billion allocated during the failed first bidding. The new maintenance provider will be the one to replace worn out rails with new ones.
The DOTC is looking for maintenance provider, for the nth time that could help the MRT3 operations run smoothly to replace Global-APT (Global Epcom and Autre Porte Technique), the present maintenance company wherein, members of Liberal Party’s involved. Why failed bidding?
With the present situation of rail system and while the government unilaterally raised metro train fares by 50-80 percent, with no upgrade in service or facilities, majority of the people doubting this fare increases would be siphoned into a huge pork barrel fund to finance public works projects through such schemes as the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) rather than to improve in the metro rail system to make it more efficient and safer for commuters to travel between their homes and jobs.
The unfortunate series of breakdowns were aggravated by the poor, incapable and incompetent maintenance of the MRT. The DOTC must implement all it can at the moment to ease the burden and guarantee the safety of the riding public.
The Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya must act accordingly with the mandate of the people to manage the MRT3-EDSA with the development as the first priority not the election 2016 financial pooling.
The latest news is that when there are no bidders for MRT3 maintenance provider, the DOTC will accept direct negotiation with other company. This is another issue for Jun Abaya if his critics will pursue such decision. Likewise, I think, the DOTC Secretary is always ready to answer their doubts.
Majority of the people doubting this fare increases would be siphoned into a huge pork barrel fund to finance public works projects through such schemes as the Disbursement Acceleration Program rather than to improve in the metro rail system to make it more efficient and safer for commuters to travel between their homes and jobs?
Of all the immediate concern for MRT3 commuters is safe travel on the trains from point and point B and over the past few months, the system has drawn criticism for recurrent breakdowns due to mechanical glitches. Last August MRT-3 was forced to suspend operations due to mechanical and communication failures. The 15-year-old MRT has been plagued by technical problems and overcrowding.
The worst of these train service disruptions, due to maintenance shortfalls, took place, with the derailment of a southbound train that sent almost 40 people to hospital for injuries. Passenger safety has come off as the more critical issue plaguing the elevated railways system than the source of subsidies for the entire system. It involves life and death issues over whether the trains become the casket for some.
The Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has more reasons why he’s still implementing the fare increase even though more and more groups and lawmakers filed petitions to stop the increase. The Supreme Court decided that TRO cannot be given because of the stature of DOTC stand to increase the same.
Various sectors intend to ask the Office of the President to review and suspend the fare increase implemented by Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) on orders of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Amid the outrage over the MRT-LRT fare increases, different sectors will jointly file a letter-petition before the Office of the President to ask for a review and suspension of the fare hike adjustment.
The petitioners, led by Akbayan Representatives Walden Bello and Barry Gutierrez and former senior government official Raffy Alunan, will ask President Benigno Aquino III "to exercise its 'power of control' over all executive departments, bureaus and offices by revoking" DOTC Order No. 2014-14 or the Implementation of the Uniform Distance-based Fare Scheme for three train lines.
The future of MRT-LRT train system could be improved and developed by our leaders with honest intention to serve the people. Election 2016 will be another leader chosen to manage and govern the Philippines. As such the issue still lingers which need the focus for solutions?
The Senate handled the MRT3 glitches over the DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya and Bob Sobrepena of MRT Holdings resulted to more meetings and intensifying subjects being discussed in the open.
For the past months, before the signing of 2015 budget, Secretary Emilio Abaya was very much alive with his planned strategies on how to tackle MRT3 problems and continued to move forward with his leadership for the good of the commuters. While at the same time, never had a wink of giving MRT Holdings its proposition for business unification. Even the Senate cannot twisted his firmed ways to solve this gigantic problem of the MRT3 drama that buyout was the only option.
Then, Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya failed to attend the hearing on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) fare hike. Truthfully, he’s busy preparing for the Pope’s visit to the Philippines and needs to prioritize things in order.
But militant group leaders like BAYAN MUNA Representative Neri Colmenares, BUHAY Representative Lito Atienza, and AKO BICOL Representative Rodel Batocabe voiced-out their negative note because of his absence.
Even Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero vowed to confront Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad over the “treacherous’’ increase of mass transit fare.
Both accused the Department of Transportation and Communication of putting one over the public by enforcing the fare increase of the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit right during the holidays.
The increase, they argued, was ill-timed because Congress approved allocations for MRT and LRT in the P2.606-trillion 2015 national budget, and that MRT has not fixed its glitches.
Other Filipinos think negatively that Secretary Abaya, as the ruling Liberal Party’s acting President has made it a source of dirty money for election 2016. They concluded that such billion-peso corruption been prevented, there would be no need for the fare hike. What do you think?
Moreover, Senator Grace Poe approved for the need to raise the fare hike, but the timing is not. Poe added that MRT3 has poor services, and has yet to fix its glitches, among many others, and fuel prices have just gone down. She also wondered why the DOTC did not inform lawmakers about the fare increase when it asked for subsidy in the supplemental budget.
The Senate must wait after the Papal visit to call a meeting with DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya and confront him with their published remarks. If they’re just riding to upkeep their images, then, they’re just playing poker instead. Their true intent must be measured by their ability to comprehend the political development within the arena. Likewise, our country needs honest leaders to put forward the development and living condition of all Filipinos.
It’s a must for, political leaders, militant groups, media people and even us to contemplate peace in solving and resolving such case like this. Never judge a person until he’s proven guilty. Maintain harmony within ourselves and trusts our present leaders to do their responsibilities to our country and its people.
MRT3 Shutdown Is Feasible or Not? #ViralInternetLinks
To ease passengers' suffering caused by recurring breakdowns of the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3), its key stakeholders are in agreement over a possible temporary shutdown of the line. The DOTC should initiate quick plans and moves to put forward the MRT temporary shutdown. I am in favor for this shutdown than carrying loads of problems may incur at the present situation. Talks and agreements should be formalized between the MRTC, DOTC and MRT II Holdings.
It’s a fact that both parties should follow the Buy-Lease-Transfer (BLT) Agreement to the best of their knowledge and capabilities to enhance the MRT3 renovation and development; depending on the initiatives of both parties to compromise the agreement in which every facet of works and management for the temporary MRT3 shutdown. Their prowess and resources should unify for the good of the common citizens.
The The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya had said the management of MRT3 hasn't endorsed a shutdown of its operations despite a series of breakdowns in recent weeks.
Lately, the government has pushed back the bidding for the maintenance contract of the MRT3. In a general bid bulletin, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the deadline for the submission and opening bids for the P2.2-billion three-year contract has been deferred to October 28. The deadline originally fell on October 17. The agency said the extension aims to allow prospective bidders to prepare competitive tenders. The DOTC did not identify the potential bidders.
At the present situation wherein, the maintenance provider APT Global must be hired until the bidding process is over.
Nevertheless, sustainable program is required in pursuing the plan of renovation. Likewise, all concerned people for this endeavor should devout their precious time, energy and know-how to finish on time. Every angle of MRT3 operations and management should be planned and study very carefully to avoid mistakes, even projecting ahead of 10 years at most.
While breakdowns are showing the APT Global must do their best to eliminate such damage until the new maintenance provider is selected. There’s nothing wrong if the DOTC should initiate the operation of MRT3 at present, but it’s a must to talk it over to MRTC’s Manager Bob Sobrepena. The whole process maybe short of some minor things but at the end of the day, the relationship is sealed slowly.
There are more things to reconsider by the DOTC to put forward the total service to the riding public. In fact, MRTCs businessmen are opening up their desire to support this MRT3 problem and until the development phase. Only that, the DOTC Secretary is not keen with his decision-making strategy in giving enough thoughts beforehand. He bolted such arguments in Senate hearing that the past negotiation is a failure.
Again, I am with the MRT3 shutdown as long as conflict should be compromised by both parties. It should drive the Filipinos to respect their governance when leaders show their capabilities in giving solution with dignity for the common good. It’s not for them to apply their personal interest but to lead by their good intention to serve the country and its people.
Blaming each other is not an option for DOTC and MRTC in giving services to the public through the MRT3 train system along EDSA. Likewise, corruption of public officials is not the primary mission in leading the Philippine government.
Majority of Filipinos knows the strategies of some politicians who only valued their vested interest while doing their job in the government. They molded their lives through dealing negatively because of the huge amount of money involves.
There’s a saying that, “Chaos gives bad people to live invisibly or saintly.” For sure, they wanted that way to juggle their ambitions and personalities direct to Hell.
Let’s take a look the case of never-ending chaos brought about by this MRT3 Project along EDSA. The PPP movement is not working here wherein squabbling over the Maintenance and Operation didn’t give positive result to the riding public. It’s really a problematic notion that privatization cannot pursue the course because of public intervention. The MRT3 was originally tasked to MRTC, of course the maintenance of MRT3; the DOTC, over the objections of MRTC, took over the maintenance of MRT3 by selecting, appointing and contracting with its preferred maintenance contractor/s, PH Trams-CB&T and Global-APT, from 2012 onwards.
A recent statement of the MRTC Board indicate that DOTC officials have been lying through their teeth in unduly blaming its private partner for this train system’s fiasco and hiding the fact that this department took over the MRT3 maintenance in 2012. MRTC has written Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) numerous letters about the resulting problems in the operations of MRT3 and demanded an explanation from DOTC. The DOTC has not answered any of those letters. But wasn’t it DOTC which took over the maintenance work in 2012 after dumping longtime contractor Sumitomo and “requested” MRTC to surrender its job of selecting the O&M service provider, after which DOTC awarded an interim contract to an unqualified and undercapitalized company through a negotiated arrangement instead of the mandatory public bidding?
DOTC has totally shut out MRTC from the business of selecting and overseeing the work of MRT3’s O&M operators since 2012, when it surprisingly dumped the train system’s longtime maintenance provider TESP-P/Sumitomo Corp. of Japan in favor of PH Trams-CB&T and, later, APT Global. MRT3’s dismal service started only when PH Trams-CB&T and then APT Global took over from Sumitomo as O&M operators.
MRTC and its mother firm MRT Holdings (MRTH) have actually submitted five capacity-expansion proposals to acquire additional LRVs from the time the DOTC and MRTC sealed their build-lease-transfer agreement in 1999.
DOTC has been accused of violating the original 1999 BLT a number of times. One instance was when it chose PH Trams-CB&T and APT Global as O&M operators along with Dalian Locomotive as LRV supplier, all without prior review and consent from MRTC as provided in the accord. The second one involved non-payment of economic rental payments (ERPs) plus staffing and administrative costs to MRTC, as well as real property taxes (RPT) to host-local government units (LGUs).
MRTC has repeatedly informed the DOTC of its readiness and willingness to purchase additional trains, has told the DOTC of its readiness and willingness to procure the O&M contract after the 2012 expiration of Sumitomo’s contract, has cited the need for a technical audit by an independent third party to assess the safety of the train system; has suggested improvements in the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the O&M contracts awarded to the interim maintenance providers to safeguard the government and riders against foul-ups; and has alerted the DOTC to problems cited by then-outgoing contractor Sumitomo, such as passenger overload and the shortage of spare parts for the train signaling and automated ticket-collection systems, to no avail.
Now we know why DOTC is only now thinking of suing MRTC after years of neglect they are blaming the owner for. It will backfire on them and the true incompetent will be exposed. And here they come claiming they will rescue us by taking over the MRT3. It's all posturing because while they have the money to buy out the government shares that will leave nothing left for private shareholders.
And DOTC executives have to think carefully their plan to sue MRTC. After all, seven of the 11 member members of the board are government officials which means, that government is running the show. Most of the board directors come from Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines, with an LBP director as chairman-president, because these state-run banks own a combined 80-percent economic interest in MRTC.
We should always defend people who manage the Philippine resources and extend total services for the good of all Filipinos. The political arena is not a milking cow for politicians. We should erase the bad elements in the political system and penalize people who are not serving our country. They only survive in getting wealth through government contracts.
We cannot achieve development until these dirty politicians and corruptions are removed from our political system. The past gave much misery to Filipino people; it’s our turn to straighten up for good of the majority.
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 Secretary Abaya: MRT3 Mishap Due To Drivers Error #ViralInternetLinks
Is it true that they connected and locked the coupling properly? If it’s locked, they were doing the right procedures? Is there a coupler’s mechanical failure? Or, the driver’s forgot about the downward slope?
Today, DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya announced to the media that the two train drivers, James Duque, Heigen Villacarlos, control center personnel Joey Diokno and at least one other employee will be charged administratively. They failed to follow protocol when a southbound MRT train stalled past the Magallanes station on Wednesday afternoon last week.
It’s James Duque who drove the train that stalled because of insufficient power. The MRT control center’s solution through Joey Diokno was to order another train, driven by Heigen Villacarlos, to come to the rescue by pushing Duque’s train forward to the next station.
As what the instruction of the control center, Heigen Villacarlos – the driver who manned the second train – attached the coupling mechanisms of the two trains, and it was disconnected from the operational train that was pushing it.
DOTC Secretary said, “After attaching the coupling mechanisms of the two trains which was not part of the procedure, Heigen Villacarlos cranked it after it engaged. Once you have engaged [the two trains], do not touch the coupling the mechanism 'cause cranking could actually decouple the mechanism.
Abaya said the two coupled trains reached a speed of 40 kilometers per hour, much faster than the hauling speed limit of just 15 kilometers per hour. The speed record came from the black box of the rescue train. He said the stalled train had no power and its black box also couldn't record such data.
"Human error" is either due to poor training or unclear policy. Both training and policy generation is the responsibility of management. So, management is still liable for not ensuring that their drivers are certified and trained properly and clearly understand the SOP's on public safety during incident like this.
Moreover, the responsibility lies with the Head Management to check and recheck their manpower status. DOTC would conduct a more rigid training session for drivers. The DOTC will also have “audit” teams that will conduct spot checks on drivers, to ensure that they have proper mastery of emergency procedures. These awareness, training or readiness is the focus of Secretary Abaya not commenting non-sense, "Riding is a personal decision. I won't go of my way to convince people to ride the MRT."
The employees will be charged administratively, but the poor maintenance of the trains added to the human error that was being contributed. They should be focused with the trains maintenance and constant monitoring of its operations.
Before, Metro Pacific (a unit of PLDT) has offered DOTC/government to shoulder all costs including buying new trains and maintaining them because the trains purchased by government are unsafe. But still, the government resumed its operation.
Chinese contractor appointed has zero experience in the construction of light rail vehicles. Train specification and build are missing key safety components necessary to ensure the safety of the riding public. A proper way of maintaining the coasters are truly prioritized in dealing with its good services.
MRTC believes that the untested and incompatible trains may cause damage to the assets of MRT3 and further cause inconvenience to the public. In return of the proposal, Metro Pacific shall increase the public fares of MRT3 (but still cheaper than bus fares) and Metro Pacific will have both gains/losses from the train operations to make them recover their investment in the long run.
Government/DOTC did not respond at all. Only logical reason is they want to use public money instead of considering superior, free alternatives championed by MRTC.
