The Commission on Audit (COA) has found that inconveniences at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) further went up in 2016, even after the Department of Transportation’s (DOTR) P3.81-billion contract with the current maintenance provider took effect. Even as penalties were meted out for the contract violations, auditors noted that these lapses may have a negative impact on the rail system. The MRT-3 management also wrote COA on May 26 that train availability increased and disruptions went down in the early part of 2017. This was cited as the reason for Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez’s move to seek the partial termination of the Busan contract. Still, COA said the ATPs were not fully compatible with the current signaling system upgraded by Bombadier Transportation under a separate P53.37-million contract.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 02, 2017 19:07 UTC