The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has inked a deal with the Shadow Operator Consultant (SOC), Ricardo Rail Australia Pty. Ltd., for the eventual operations and maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4) Project.
The contract signing event was held in Mandaluyong City on Thursday, March 30, led by DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista and Australian Embassy Ambassador Dr. Moya Collet, for the 13-kilometer rail project that will run from Ortigas Avenue to Taytay that will be fully operational in the year 2028.
"I am confident this collaboration between ADB, the engineering consultants, the shadow operator consultant, and DOTr will pave the way for the early start and on-time completion of this project," Secretary Bautista said.
"We hope this will become a benchmark for the determination of private operators of other transport systems like rail lines, airports, seaports, ferry systems, even bus transits," he added.
The project will minimize the travel time from Ortigas to Taytay by 27 minutes from the previous 1 hour and 30 minutes—accommodating 399,372 passengers per day.
Included in the historic contract singing are DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Chief of Staff Reinier Yebra, Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy Batan, Undersecretary for Administrative Service Kim De Leon, and Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino.
