Can We Afford MRT Buyout

The Senate is effectively aborting the planned government takeover of the breakdown-prone Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 next year.Senators are insisting on their decision to take out the P53.9-billion appropriation in the proposed P2.606-trillion 2015 national budget for the buyout plan even if the House of Representatives would insist on retaining it.

We Cannot Afford The Buyout

The government wants to buy out the Metro Manila Line 3 (MRT) to take over its operation. Their target date is First quarter of this year. But it is impossible if they do that because as of now they had a complaint from Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC). This company filed a suit in arbitration tribunal in Singapore against the Philippine government for throwing all of their rights. The government signed the 1999 BLT agreement that the MRTC. MRTC private shareholders has the right to operate the MRT and they have also a right to choose contractor for the train development.questioning the government: why they gave a contract to Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co.? Without any proper consultation on their side; but Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya that said that they are not worried, they are very confident that the buyout will happen.