Ofelia Astrera and Oscar Bongon (Photo courtesy of MRT-3) MANILA - A senior official of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) has been appointed the officer-in-charge (OIC) general manager of the railway service by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The MRT-3 announced Thursday the appointment of Ofelia Astrera as the OIC-General Manager of the MRT-3, concurrent to her position as the chief of its Support Division. "Engineer Astrera handled quality assurance and quality control of the PMO (Project Management Office) which ensured the adherence of all construction works of the project to agreed standards and specifications. She became the chief of the Support Division (Technical Training)/Computer Section and AFCS (automated fare collection system) Office of the MRT-3 in 2000, a position she has held to this date," it said. Astrera is a licensed geodetic engineer and holds a master's degree in public administration. In addition, the DOTr announced the appointment of Oscar Bongon as the OIC Director for Operations of the MRT-3, concurrent to his position as the chief of the Engineering Division. "Engr. Astrera and Engr. Bongon were both part of the core PMO of then Department of Transportation and Communications MRT-3 in 1997 which saw the coming to fruition of the EDSA MRT-3 project," it said. Bongon previously worked in the power supply and overhead and catenary system section of the PMO before heading the Maintenance Supervisory, Safety and Security Division of the MRT-3 in the 2000s. "He also served as the Chief of the Transport Division from 2004 to 2010; Station Division from 2010 to 2016; and Engineering Division from 2017 to date," it said. It said Bongon is a licensed electrical engineer and holds a master's degree in management. Both of their positions are effective from July 1 until July 31, "or until a replacement has been appointed or designated, whichever comes first." (PNA) }