Company should also be blacklisted from gov’t, Pimentel says
(Eagle News)– China’s Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stocks Co. should refund the full P3.8 billion the government spent for the 48 light rail vehicles of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said in a statement on Saturday that the company should also be blacklisted from all future contracts with the government.
“Cancelling the contract and returning the coaches is not enough,” Pimentel said.
According to Pimentel, this was because “what we have here is a supplier who knowingly supplied equipment that is not suitable for the MRT.”
The 48 LRVs have been certified by third-party auditors as not being compatible with the MRT system.
The LRVs were also reportedly heavier than what the contract specified, and only 29 of them have signaling systems.
“We can’t just let them get away with it with no penalties whatsoever,” Pimentel said.
The MRT has been marred with glitches that have affected thousands of passengers daily.