MANILA -- Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) vowed to fight in court the looming implementation of a fare increase in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines.
This, after President Benigno Aquino III and Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II said an increase in train fare hikes is necessary to save funds for the mass transport projects in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Aquino explained that actual fares are supposed to be P60 but because of government subsidy, the fares are lowered to P15. The proposed new fares will see the minimum fare of P10 rise to P15 and the maximum rate of P15 rise to around P25 to P30.
“The increase in fares is a callous act. The reduction of subsidy is patently anti-commuter. The reason why government is spending a lot to subsidy is because it is paying the debts from an onerous contract,” noted Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr.
“The P8 billion subsidies for the MRT go to the payment of debts that were guaranteed by past governments. Instead of reducing subsidy for commuters, Aquino should find ways of stopping these onerous debt payments. We are willing to help government fight this onerous contract so that the government’s financial burden will be lessened and commuters spared from higher fares,” Reyes said.
Reyes said the argument of Aquino that non-riders should not be subsidizing MRT riders is a fallacy since other government-funded hospitals are subsidized by taxpayers in the provinces who necessarily do not seek its service.
“The PGH (Philippine General Hospital) is subsidized by taxpayers in the provinces who do not necessarily go the PGH. UP (University of the Philippines) is subsidized by people who do not study in UP. All taxpayers are being made to pay government debts whether or not they actually benefitted from these debts. Is Roxas saying these practices are also wrong?” Reyes pointed out.
Reyes added the MRT and LRT could also find ways to raise their non-rail revenue if government wants to decrease subsidy. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)