Some 74 local and international private firms have expressed interest to bid in a project aimed at expanding the capacity and operations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3.
This was announced by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) during the big turnout at the recent joint Market Sounding activity held at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters for the MRT-3 Capacity Expansion, Operations and Maintenance (CEOM) public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.
Prior to the event, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had instructed the DOTr to collaborate with the private sector to further improve the MRT-3’s services and infrastructure for the benefit of commuters.
Under the MRT-3 CEOM PPP Project, the winning bidder will take over the operations and maintenance of the existing line, ensure continued operations without service interruption, manage the MRT-3 area in the Common Station, introduce new Dalian trains in commercial service, add new rolling stock, and upgrade the signaling, depot, power and communication systems, among others.
In a statement, Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez said that “with the help of the private sector, the expansion of the MRT-3 can be done” more efficiently and at a faster pace.
“We are doing it for the hassle-free travel of commuters and we are happy that many companies are interested in this project,” Lopez said.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said the MRT-3 PPP is “a very viable and promising project” that could help address traffic congestion in Metro Manila through expanded MRT-3 operations and services.
“This is an existing line and historically, we know its ridership can reach up to 630,000 people a day,” Batan said.
Meanwhile, Asian Development Bank country director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries and PPP Center of the Philippines Undersecretary and Executive Director Rizza Blanco-Latorre both expressed support for the MRT-3 expansion project.
“We’re proud and quite privileged to be a partner in this endeavor to improve overall connectivity for the Filipino people,” Jeffries said.