Palace to MRT passengers: Try other modes of transportation

**miLes** · April 21st, 2014 07:24 PM

before office ended last holy week, i tried riding line 1 again. seeing the other side without passengers, while on our side it's always full. What if the route of the train goes on a loop, then people can choose either side since both will pass tru their stations, this could even out capacities, maximizing the less occupied route. of course this wouldnt work if you're just one or two stations away from your destination

**Monseratto** · February 26th, 2015 11:28 AM

This guy's name who is buddies with the Yellow Army came up again recently, but has been linked already to other MRT "scandals"... Ever since they changed the maintenace provide from a multinational company Sumitomo to a local fly by night one...

Who is Marlo dela Cruz, MRT-3 multi-contractor?
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) | Updated May 30, 2014 - 12:00am

Who is Marlo dela Cruz, and why is everybody in this exposed MRT-3 scandal pointing to him as the center of it all?

In striving to answer this question, graft busters would prove the perilously poor maintenance of the railway. They’d also discover a mesh of billion-peso deals favoring the same persons over and over at the LRT-1, LRT-2, and Philippine National Railways.

Dela Cruz’s name first surfaced last year, when Czech Amb. Josef Rychtar accused MRT-3 characters of a $30-million shakedown. Supposedly dela Cruz was with the party of GM Al Vitangcol and Wilson de Vera that attempted to extort $30 million from Czech train maker Inekon. Rychtar swore it happened a year ahead, at his residence on the night of July 9, 2012, and at Vitangcol’s office the next afternoon.

Vitangcol and de Vera swiftly denied Rychtar’s allegation. De Vera confirmed attending both meetings, but only to explore business with Inekon as a director of PH Trams. He affirmed dela Cruz’s presence, referring to him as “the Board Chairman.”

Vitangcol admitted only to the meeting of July 10 at his office. Indeed the security logs record the arrival there first of de Vera, followed by Rychtar, Inekon CEO Josef Husek, and COO Milan Haloun.

At the MRT-3’s mother Dept. of Transport and Communications transpired another meeting a month earlier, June 28, 2012, according to separate logs. Attendees at the office of U-Sec Rene Limcaoco were: Vitangcol, Rychtar, and Haloun. Present as “Observer” was dela Cruz.

Though implicated in the $30-million scandal, dela Cruz did not move to clear his name.

PH Trams, which consequently would bag MRT-3’s P517.5-million maintenance contract, was not yet existent that July 9 and 10, 2012. It incorporated only on July 31, and filed for SEC registration on Aug. 6, 2012 (Company Registration No. OS201230134).

Heading the list of six incorporators-directors was dela Cruz, of 12 Florence St., Merville Park, Parañaque City. The rest: Federico F. Remo, EVP of state-owned Philippine Export-Import Guarantee Corp.; Manolo M. Maralit and Alfreda Tan Maralit, with the same address; de Vera; and Arturo V. Soriano, Pangasinan provincial accountant.

PH Trams was but two months old on Oct. 19, 2012, when MRT-3 granted it P517.5 million, 828 times its P625,000-capital.

Soriano is Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law. Exposure of that prohibited conflict of interest (see Gotcha, 26 May 2014) led to Vitangcol’s sacking.

In public defense, Vitangcol claimed that Uncle Art had divested all shares in PH Trams to dela Cruz just before he granted them the hefty deal. Soriano echoed the incredible line.

Meantime, still no word from Chairman dela Cruz about his fledgling, undercapitalized PH Trams’ influence.

Vitangcol, Transport Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya, and U-Sec. Jose Perpetuo Lotilla had signed away the P517.5 million to PH Trams. It was because PH Trams was in partnership with the better-capitalized, truly experienced CB&T, they chorused this week. Why then that CB&T had to tie up with dela Cruz’s tyro, un-moneyed firm, the trio did not explain.

CB&T president Roehl Bacar gave part of the story. He told The STAR yesterday that PH Trams was supposed to provide the spare parts from Inekon, maker of MRT-3’s 73 trams. But PH Trams didn’t deliver, he said, ending the partnership in Dec. 2012 or Jan. 2013.

In effect, Bacar confirmed that the consortium had not stockpiled on crucial spare parts, as the contract required. This imperiled till today the lives and limbs of 560,000 daily MRT-3 passengers (see Gotcha, 28 May 2014).

No word from Chairman dela Cruz about that either.

In belying hanky-panky in the MRT-3’s P517.5-million grant, Vitangcol, Abaya, and Lotilla waved the contract with a new consortium, APT-Global. This is for P712.77 million, Sept. 2013 to Aug. 2014. Insiders say the trio hastily had to drop unqualified but well-connected PH Trams because Rychtar’s accusations had set off investigations by the NBI and House of Reps.

Curiously Abaya issued the Notice (for APT-Global) to Proceed with the deal to its “authorized representative Marlo dela Cruz.” This was stated in a DOTC press release (published by The STAR on Sept. 3, 2013), and posted in the DOTC website on Sept. 5 (picked up by Business Mirror and online news Rappler on the same day).

Vitangcol, Abaya, and Lotilla confirmed this week that dela Cruz indeed represents APT-Global. They did not explain why the chairman of the old contractor PH Trams is embedded in the new one.

Still no word from dela Cruz.

Insiders aver that dela Cruz came into the new maintenance contract not through APT but Global Epcom Services Inc. His name does not appear in the SEC registration (A199919139). Neither is there that of a silent partner in false divestment, a high PNR official.

Purportedly the product of buy-ins to Genials Trading Co. (same SEC registration number), Global’s papers contain the original and new stockholders.

Insiders say that APT, like CB&T before it, has capital and experience in maintenance of trains and tracks. Global, like dela Cruz’s PH Trams is supposed to provide the spare parts. But there is no record at the MRT-3 of such parts inventory, or importation from abroad.

Meaning, to this day, there is no real maintenance of MRT-3. Due to deterioration of tracks, power supply, and signal system, the trains may collide, ignite, or derail any time. Meantime, Global is muscling its way into LRT-1 and LRT-2, whose maintenance are handled by CB&T and APT, respectively.

Dela Cruz hails from Manaoag, Pangasinan, where he and his family campaigned for 2010 vice presidential bet and former DOTC head Mar Roxas. Roxas, who moved to the interior department in Aug. 2012, said he has not seen nor heard from dela Cruz since the campaign.

Insiders and visitors often see dela Cruz at the MRT-3.

http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014...lti-contractor

**dr. d** · February 27th, 2015 01:11 AM

what's this i heard about mrt's limited service schedule?

**kimbon** · February 27th, 2015 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by dr. d

what's this i heard about mrt's limited service schedule?

yup they gonna shut down the operation ahead of normal schedules i think on sunday due to maintenance. meron daw papalitan na portion ng riles causing daw ito sa biglang pagbinto ng bagon.

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Originally Posted by dr. d

what's this i heard about mrt's limited service schedule?

yup they gonna shut down the operation ahead of normal schedules i think on sunday due to maintenance. meron daw papalitan na portion ng riles causing daw ito sa biglang pagbinto ng bagon.

**CVT** · February 27th, 2015 08:25 AM

Other modes of transportation? - lakad!

(Para namang sangkaterba ang options ng mga tao.....)....

"The measure of a man is what he does with power" LJIOHF!

25.8K:shazam:

**kimbon** · February 27th, 2015 08:33 AM

^^^ yup the best pa rin ang lakad. hwag na hwag sasakay ng bus kasi pagnasa itaas na ito ng tulay pinapalipad ng bus driver.

**joemarski** · February 27th, 2015 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by dr. d

what's this i heard about mrt's limited service schedule?

papalitan raw 'yung mga LUMANG RILES ng mga... LUMANG RILES. :bwahaha:

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Originally Posted by dr. d

what's this i heard about mrt's limited service schedule?

papalitan raw 'yung mga LUMANG RILES ng mga... LUMANG RILES. :bwahaha:

**Monseratto** · March 5th, 2015 08:12 AM

Kasalanan pa rin ni GMA...

PNOY blames GMA anew
MARCH 3, 2015 11:30 PM

Malacanang is once again putting the blame to the former administration regarding the worsening problem of the MRT operation in EDSA.

PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. made the statement after negating Senator JV Ejercito’s claim that the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III is weak and useless because he’s not able to resolve the problem of the MRT.

Coloma said that we the Aquino administration shouldn’t be the catch basin of all the problems and failures of the MRT if these problems have been solved during former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term.

“Kaya siguro dapat lang palawakin ‘yung pananaw na ipinahayag ni Senator Ejercito. Tingnan natin ‘yung malaking larawan. Hindi lang naman ‘yon simple case of negligence. Maraming mga basic actions katulad ‘nung revamp of the fare structure na dapat na isinagawa noong nakaraan pa hindi naisagawa, kaya sumobra ‘yung level of use, at dahil nga doon ay kinakailangan ‘yung extensive maintenance.”

Coloma added that based on the studies of the experts, the root of the problem is the askew fare structure of the MRT which is why there’s excess in passengers while lacking in coaches.

Its original capacity’s supposedly three hundred thousand up to three fifty thousand, however, on an average, MRT passengers reach up to half a million.

“Masyadong naging mura, comparatively speaking, ‘yung singil sa MRT-LRT na way below the cost that is needed na para mamintine ito. Kaya nga ngayon ay nagpatupad tayo, sa kabila ng maigiting na kritisismo, ginawa ng administrasyon ‘yung nararapat, ‘yung ipinatupad ‘yung dapat na maging fare structure dahil iyan naman ang sinasaad sa ating Philippine Development Plan, na ‘yung mga users ng serbisyo ang siyang dapat na magbayad ng nararapat na halaga.”

PNOY blames GMA anew - DZRH News

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Kasalanan pa rin ni GMA...

PNOY blames GMA anew
MARCH 3, 2015 11:30 PM

Malacanang is once again putting the blame to the former administration regarding the worsening problem of the MRT operation in EDSA.

PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. made the statement after negating Senator JV Ejercito’s claim that the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III is weak and useless because he’s not able to resolve the problem of the MRT.

Coloma said that we the Aquino administration shouldn’t be the catch basin of all the problems and failures of the MRT if these problems have been solved during former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term.

“Kaya siguro dapat lang palawakin ‘yung pananaw na ipinahayag ni Senator Ejercito. Tingnan natin ‘yung malaking larawan. Hindi lang naman ‘yon simple case of negligence. Maraming mga basic actions katulad ‘nung revamp of the fare structure na dapat na isinagawa noong nakaraan pa hindi naisagawa, kaya sumobra ‘yung level of use, at dahil nga doon ay kinakailangan ‘yung extensive maintenance.”

Coloma added that based on the studies of the experts, the root of the problem is the askew fare structure of the MRT which is why there’s excess in passengers while lacking in coaches.

Its original capacity’s supposedly three hundred thousand up to three fifty thousand, however, on an average, MRT passengers reach up to half a million.

“Masyadong naging mura, comparatively speaking, ‘yung singil sa MRT-LRT na way below the cost that is needed na para mamintine ito. Kaya nga ngayon ay nagpatupad tayo, sa kabila ng maigiting na kritisismo, ginawa ng administrasyon ‘yung nararapat, ‘yung ipinatupad ‘yung dapat na maging fare structure dahil iyan naman ang sinasaad sa ating Philippine Development Plan, na ‘yung mga users ng serbisyo ang siyang dapat na magbayad ng nararapat na halaga.”

http://dzrhnews.com/pnoy-blames-gma-anew/

**CVT** · March 5th, 2015 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Monseratto

Kasalanan pa rin ni GMA...

PNOY blames GMA anew - DZRH News

Nakukulili na ako sa ganyang palusot ng gobyerno....

It is your "watch" and you should have rectified it! Kaya nga daang matuwid e,- ituwid ang baluktot !

Ano na ang nangyari sa aking utol at katotong si Al Vitangcol???

"The measure of a man is what he does with power" LJIOHF!

25.8K:shazam:

**macsd** · March 5th, 2015 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Monseratto

Kasalanan pa rin ni GMA...

PNOY blames GMA anew - DZRH News

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Kasalanan pa rin ni GMA...

PNOY blames GMA anew - DZRH News

Just show's how inept this administration of ABNOY is. Near to it's twilight still passing the blame. Bakit hindi nyo kayang aminin na hindi nyo alam ang solution at ang tanging ginawa ng mga tao nyo eh magnakaw. Potang Inamoy kayong mga namumuno. Dapat sa inyo binabaril sa ulo parang daga. Kayong mga kampon ni ABNOY ang salot sa bansa. :bond:

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Originally Posted by Monseratto

Kasalanan pa rin ni GMA...

PNOY blames GMA anew - DZRH News

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kasalanan pa rin ni GMA...

http://dzrhnews.com/pnoy-blames-gma-anew/

Just show's how inept this administration of ABNOY is. Near to it's twilight still passing the blame. Bakit hindi nyo kayang aminin na hindi nyo alam ang solution at ang tanging ginawa ng mga tao nyo eh magnakaw. Potang Inamoy kayong mga namumuno. Dapat sa inyo binabaril sa ulo parang daga. Kayong mga kampon ni ABNOY ang salot sa bansa. :bond: