Party-list oposses LRT fare increase

LRT Train (Invest Philippines)

MANILA – Together with other commuter and consumer organizations, the Abakada party-list will be opposing the planned fare increase in the Light and Metro Rail Transit systems by filing a petition with the Supreme Court (SM), according to party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz.

“We are filing a petition with the SC, together with the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters’ Group, to stop this fare adjustment. Our lawyers are now drafting the petition,” De la Cruz said yesterday.

He lamented that the fare increase is the worst gift the administration could offer the public.

“This fare increase is the worst Christmas gift that the administration can give to the public, especially the millions of working masses in Metro Manila. This is not only unchristian, it is totally uncalled for as there was no public hearing,” he added.

He also said that while millions of taxpayers are subsidizing LRT Lines 1 and 2 and the Metro Rail Transit 3, most of the money are lost to corruption.

“However, a good part of annual subsidies is lost to corruption. We are left with a creaking system that is an accident waiting to happen,” he said.

The planned protest is following the statement of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya announcing that the hike in train fares will start on Jan 4.

The said fare increase will be affecting more than one million LRT and MRT-Line 3 commuters, which has an average commuter of 650,000 per day.

“The Aquino government should retract its order to increase fares, start taking over the rail system and abandon its plan of using billions in public funds to buy the utility only to privatize it all over again,” Rep. Fernando Hicap of Anakpawis party-list, meanwhile, said.