A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday appealed to the Department of Transportation to stand its ground not to allow the Busan Universal Rail Inc. to bid on the three Metro Rail Transit projects.
At the same time, Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao cautioned the DoTr to also scrutinize other potential bidders particularly the former MRT maintenance provider.
“The DoTR should learn from its past mistakes not only for the safety of the riding public but also to government funds that have not been maximized due to onerous contracts and rotten service,” Casilao said.
“We remind DoTR secretary Art Tugade that he only got five months to make the necessary improvement. If he fails, resigning should be on top of his option,” he added.
Casilao made the statement in response to the exposè of Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles that the Busan Transportation Corp. and Edison Development & Construction have been qualified as bidders for three major DoTr projects. This, despite the fact that its maintenance contract for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 has been terminated due to its sloppy services and alleged anomalous dealings with the government.
Nograles earlier said what is even worse is that the Busan Transportation Corp. and Edison Development & Construction—who should be held accountable and responsible in turning the MRT 3 into shambles, is the lone bidder for the maintenance of LRT Line 2.
Casilao maintained that the government should be the one which operates the MRT which includes its maintenance.
“The government in three consecutive years since 2015 already outpoured around P13 billion, it should have been used to established a support industry integrated with the local steel industry, so as to sustain the system, as well as serve as a proto-industry to totally support a nationalized mass transport system in the country,” Casilao said.
Quoting unimpeachable sources in the DoTr, Nograles earlier disclosed the companies behind Busan Universal Rail Inc (BURI), namely Busan Transportation Corporation and Edison Development & Construction “were qualified by the DOTr as eligible bidders for three major DOTr projects despite the fact that the DOTr cancelled their contract due to Negative Slippage.”
Edison, which is a BURI incorporator, is a sole proprietorship of Elpidio Silvestre Uy who failed to declare his ownership stake in BURI to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. While Busan, another incorporator of BURI, is a Korean company facing charges as well in a plunder case filed by the DoTr.
These projects involve the Rail Replacement of the MRT3, the restoration of four LRT2 trains, and, worst of all, is the lone bidder for the LRT2 Maintenance Contract,” Nograles said.