The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Friday it has signed an agreement with the Japanese company Sumitomo Corp. for a two-year extension of its maintenance and rehabilitation of the MRT-3 rail line.
The extended contract will cover upgrades, repairs, and maintenance to prevent breakdowns and ensure smoother operations for passengers.
Transportation acting secretary Giovanni Lopez and Sumitomo Corp. general manager Takeshi Noguchi signed the agreement.
Lopez noted that since Sumitomo Corp. took over MRT-3’s rehabilitation and maintenance in 2019, the number of operational trains increased from 7 in 2018 to 22 by 2022, allowing the deployment of up to 20 train sets during peak hours.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Japan are also extending assistance to the agreement, DOTr statement said.
“We look forward to ensuring that MRT-3 continues to provide safe, reliable, and efficient service to our Filipino commuters and the riding public in general,” Lopez said.
Although the agreement has been signed, it still requires final approval from both the Philippine and Japanese governments.
“With the agreement, commuters are assured of efficient and convenient rail services, reduced glitches and breakdowns and shorter travel time,” DOTr said. — Marlon Magtira
