Senator Raffy Tulfo inspected the controversial 48 unused Dalian trains worth P3.7 billion purchased by the past administration, as he is eyeing to conduct a hearing after the Senate Session break to investigate those behind it.
As the newly installed chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Tulfo visited the MRT3 Depot in North Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, June 18 inspect the said sets of Dalian trains procured by the Philippine government to expand the operations of MRT which remain unused due to unresolved incompatibility issues with the rail system
“Nakatiwangwang lang at nababalot na ng alikabok ang 48 Dalian trains na gawa ng China na nagkakahalaga ng ₱3.7 billion simula noong ito ay ma-deliver noong 2017 (The 48 Dalian trains from China which cost P3.7 billion are left unused and covered in dust since it was delivered in 2017),” he said.
“Mayroon ng mga nakasuhan sa Ombudsman dahil dito pero nadismiss lamang ang mga kaso nila. Kaya dapat ay magsampa ng kakaibang criminal case kaysa sa dati nang nai-file para maiwasan ang double jeopardy (There were people who were charged by the Ombudsman because of this but their cases were dismissed. That's why there should be a different criminal case filed different from before to avoid double jeopardy),” he added.
Tulfo said in a statement that he found out that the administration of the late former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III was aware from the beginning that the specifications of Dalian's wagons were not compatible and non-compliant with our MRT system, but still insisted on continuing the contract and accepting the delivery of useless trains.
“At kung sakali mang piliting gamitin at patakbuhin ng ating gobyerno ang mga Dalian trains, kailangang sumuka muli ang pamahalaan ng panibagong limpak-limpak na pera na magkakahalaga sa dalawang bilyong piso kada taon para lang sa maintenance (And if the government will force to use these Dailan trains, it would cost a whopping P2 billion per year just for maintenance),” he pointed out.
Instead of spending huge amounts for the maintenance of defective trains, Tulfo suggested that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) re-negotiate the contract so that these trains can be returned and the amount of money spent be refunded.