SEN. Ralph G. Recto has recommended that the government consider locally sourcing the materials or equipment needed in the planned P6.4-billion rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Recto asserted it is time to start developing local industries that would eventually supply the trains and replacement parts for the LRT and MRT systems. “Importing the coaches and spare parts from abroad would mean subsidizing a foreign worker. We could eventually buy or make them locally,” he said.

Recto argued that sourcing the trains or coaches from the domestic  front  would translate to savings in foreign exchange and spur job generation.

“Developing our own train-making industry will have a multiplier effect,” he said, adding that a new industry would be spawned that would create a skilled labor force.

The senator suggested that the government could use as model the thriving shipbuilding/shiprepair industry in Cebu and Subic and even the ubiquitous jeepney assemblers that churn out “sleek and shiny metallic icons on wheels” in jumpstarting the train-making industry.

At the same time, Recto commended the Aquino government for forking out the funds for the MRT-LRT upgrades without telegraphing the possibility of increasing the fare rates afterward.

Malacañang earlier announced it was allocating P6.37 billion to rehabilitate and upgrade the three light rail lines of LRT Lines 1 and 2 and  MRT 3, of which P4.5 billion will be used to purchase 26 additional coaches for the 12-year-old MRT, with P1.87 billion set aside to improve the trains, rails and stations of LRT 1 and 2, which are 30 years old and 10 years old, respectively.

“This is a laudable move. We have been calling for the upgrading of the train systems to improve services, decongest the trains and move more riders,” Recto said. He pointed out that the investment poured in by the government into the rehabilitation of the LRT and MRT lines would be recouped in terms of increased ridership and revenues from advertising and lease deals.

“The increased patronage and income may ultimately off-set the need to increase fares,” the senator added.