(Aprub sa NEDA Board)P7.6-B MRT-3 REHAB FUND HIKE

NAKAKUHA ng dagdag na pondo ang rehabilitasyon ng Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).

Inaprubahan ng National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board ang P7.6-billion increase sa rehabilitation fund alinsunod sa rekomendasyon ng Department of Transportation (DOTr), o mula P21.9 billion sa P29.6 billion.

“This project involves upgrading MRT-3 to its original as-designed state with provision for capacity expansion in the future,” wika ni Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. “All subsystems will be restored, renewed, or upgraded, including the tracks, signaling system, power supply system, overhead catenary system, and communications system, as well as maintenance and station equipment.”

“The expansion would involve integrating other MRT 3 related projects, such as the common station, the Dalian trains, and the transition to a 4-car train configuration,” aniya, patungkol sa central hub sa Quezon City na nagkokonekta sa MRT 3, LRT 1, at MRT 7, at trains mula China.

Nang tanungin kung ang expansion ay magreresulta sa fare increase, sinabi ni Balisacan na ang project contract ay dinisenyo para mapigilan ang hindi makatuwirang pagtataas.

“Hindi mangyayari ‘yan na even if in the future i-PPP [public-private partnership] ‘yung operations and maintenance, nakita ninyo naman with the public operations the experience is not good,” paliwanag niya.

“We think that a private sector operating it is likely to give a better experience for passengers as we see in other countries, not the construction but the operation and maintenance,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang MRT-3 ay unang sumailalim sa rehabilitasyon noong 2018.