THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said its original plan to bundle the operations and maintenance contracts for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) could be difficult to pull off, due to the different markets served by the two commuter lines.
“We are seeing that maybe bundling is not appropriate at this time because these are two different markets,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Jeremy S. Regino told reporters.
No decision has been made pending the conclusion of the feasibility study, which is expected this year at the earliest, he said.
“The International Finance Corp. is studying Line 2 while the ADB (Asian Development Bank) on the other hand is studying MRT-3.”
In 2023, the DoTr said it was studying the viability of bundling the MRT-3 and LRT-2 contracts once the two lines are privatized.
The Transportation department is hoping to auction the operations and maintenance contract for MRT-3 by the first quarter of 2025.
The DoTr aims to privatize MRT-3 before the build, lease, and transfer contract with Metro Rail Transit Corp. expires next year.
“The best approach in MRT-3 might not be the same approach in Line 2. We are looking into all options and we are looking into the figures,” Mr. Regino said.
The DoTr is looking to rehabilitate and expand LRT-2.
“We need to expand it to the West going to the South harbor. We need to expand it to Cogeo (Antipolo) to cater to more passengers. In short, Line 2 has its own orientation,” Mr. Regino said.
The Light Rail Transit Authority has said that about three more stations will be added to the LRT-2 eastward expansion to Antipolo City. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
