Remember the Dalian trains that were supposed to increase the capacity of the MRT-3? With DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran stating in 2021 that the improved MRT-3 services are not due to the Dalian trains, an audit report by COA revealed that 48 Dalian trains remain unutilized.

This has prompted COA to flag DoTR, explaining that these were procured 8 years ago as part of a Php 3.759 billion contract.

“Needless to say, the uncompleted implementation of the proposed Way-Forward Plan for the LRV’s eventual regular operational deployment, as well as the final acceptance of the nine (9) LRVs and the testing, commissioning and acceptance of the other 39 LRVs Dalian Trains, prevented the agency to maximize the utilization thereof, thereby depriving the riding public of the benefits of a more comfortable transportation system,” COA said in a statement.

In COA’s investigation, it noted that the DoTR MRT-3 management initiated projects to increase the train capacity to 800,000 passengers per day. Part of this project is the MRT-3 Dalian trains, which became available to the public on October 15, 2019.

The audit report also noted that it has yet to receive a response from CRRC Dalian in its compliance for technical issues like Tare Weight and Depot Maintenance Equipment Compatibility.

“The DOTr-MRT3 is now closely coordinating and expediting the discussions among CRRC Dalian and Sumitomo Corporations to set the operations and maintenance requirements and parameters for the Dalian Trains,” COA said in its statement.