Commuters’ group presses TRO vs. MRT-LRT fare hike

Senators Grace Poe and Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero at the MRT-LRT Senate hearing (Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s Facebook page)

MANILA — A commuters’ group on Tuesday held a picket in front of the Supreme Court (SC) along Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila to demand a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the fare increase in the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit (LRT).

LRT Line 1 runs from Baclaran, Paranaque City to Roosevelt, Quezon City; LRT Line 2 travels from Recto, Manila to Santolan, Pasig City; and MRT Line 3 traverses from North Avenue, Quezon City to EDSA-Taft Avenue, Pasay City.

The Riles Laan sa Sambayanan (Riles) Network said that the SC should be able to act now on the petition it filed for a TRO last January 5, the day that the big time increase in fare for the train systems took effect.

“It has been one month since the fare hikes were implemented and since we filed a petition for a TRO before the SC. The riding public and all Filipinos deserve a TRO now,” RILES Network spokesman Samuel Malunes said.

The Riles Network is among the various organizations which filed a petition for a TRO which claims that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) approved the fare hike without conducting public consultations on the matter.

“It is easy to see that the fare hikes are illegal, as the DOTC clearly failed to conduct public consultations. The SC could and should immediately issue a TRO against the fare hikes, which has increased the economic burden of commuters,” Malunes added.