The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday clarified that the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRT-3) is not for sale.
The statement comes after some media organizations reported that the government could no longer spend Php 8.93 million a year to operate and maintain the MRT-3, hence it allegedly plans to sell its assets.
In a statement, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said they are currently studying the privatization of MRT-3’s Operation and Maintenance (O&M).
“The DOTR clarifies it is considering the possibility of turning over the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of MRT 3 to qualified private sector operators toward improving its operational efficiency,” he said.
DOTr sa pagsasapribado ng MRT-3: We are looking at partnering with private rail operators for MRT 3’s operations and maintenance – under the same scheme with LRT 1 – with the rail line’s assets remaining government owned | @dzrhnews
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) November 9, 2022
đź“ť: @DOTrPH pic.twitter.com/70COsmJQY2
Bautista noted that just like the scheme under LRT-1, the rail line’s assets remain “government-owned” even though private sectors handle the operation.
He said that privatizing the MRT3's O&M would also reduce operational cost to maintain affordable fares.
“Railway system should remain the most affordable and safest mode of mass transit in the country. Operations of railways in the metropolis - LRT1, LRT2, MRT3 - continue to be subsidized by the government to keep fare levels affordable,” Bautista stressed.
