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Aquino would rather solve the LRT-MRT issue than pass it on to next administration — Palace
President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Youth Summit 2014 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Friday (December 19, 2014). This year’s theme is “Fearless”. The Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan (KKB) Movement is the youth Life Group Network of the Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide (JILCW). The KKB Mission is to inspire the youth to live for Jesus Christ and to offer the prime years of their lives in service to God and Country. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
MANILA — The Aquino administration would rather solve the problems on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) now rather than pass them on to the next administration, a Malacañang official said on Monday.
“Ayaw ng Pangulo na magpamana sa susunod na administrasyon ng mga suliranin na dapat ay tinukoy na… Kinakailangang harapin natin ang isyu ng malaking halaga na ginugugol para sa subsidy ng LRT/MRT fares at makatuwiran lamang na magkaroon ng adjustment ang fare structure nito para mailapit doon sa sinisingil para sa mga air-conditioned buses (The President doesn’t want the next administration to inherit the problems that should’ve already been addressed… We need to face the issues regarding the huge amount of money allotted to subsidize LRT/MRT fares at it is only right to have adjustments in its fare structure to compete with the fare on air-conditioned buses),” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing at the Palace.
He was referring to the government’s decision to raise the fare of the LRT Lines 1 and 2 and the MRT Line 3 to reduce its subsidy on the mass transit service. The government subsidy amounts to Php 25 for every Php 15 fare for the LRT and Php 45 for every Php 15 fare for the MRT.
When asked if the fare increase would mean an upgrade in the services the three lines, Coloma said that even without the fare hike, the government has been constantly improving the services of the light railway transit system.
“Sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay ina-address naman ang safety and convenience issues ng LRT/MRT. Kahit naman hindi naipatupad ang fare increase noong mga nakaraang panahon ay patuloy na tinukoy ng pangasiwaan at ng administrasyon ang mga maintenance and safety concerns na prayoridad sa pagtitiyak na magiging ligtas ang mass transit service natin (In every opportunity, we address the safety and convenience issues of LRT/MRT. Even if we didn’t implement the fare increase before, we continually addressed the maintenance and safety concerns which are, the priorities to ensure the safety of our mass transit service),” he explained.
The government will impose a uniform distance-based fare scheme for all three train lines, where the minimum fare will be P11 for the initial kilometer, plus Php 1 for every succeeding kilometer.
The fare hike is expected to take effect on Jan. 4 next year.
