The Controversial MRT-LRT Fare Increase

        Department of Transportation and Communications Sec. Emilio Abaya is in the midst of controversial after he ordered to increase the fare in MRT and LRT. His department didn’t release any announcement regarding this plan. In other words, there were not conducted a public consultation. They only announced it on Christmas holiday last year. The militant groups are questioning the action of Sec. Abaya. For them, it is very clear that their action is violating the law. They assumed that this is a part of his dirty tactics to make their hidden agenda. It is possible that they will use it to solicit funds for the 2016 national election. Based on a report, Sec. Abaya is acting now as a president of Liberal Party which is the affiliate political party of President Aquino. Hmm, something smells fishy here.

            The militant groups especially Bayan Muna already filed a complaint in high court. They requested a temporary restraining order to stop the MRT-LRT increase, but unfortunately it was ignored by the high court. Hence, the Malacañang claimed that the action of the DOTC is really correct. Their position is the public should see the importance of the MRT-LRT increase because the government didn’t make any increase for how many years. Their aim is to lessen the subsidy that they are paying for ever train commuters. They also emphasized that they will use the money for the development and maintenance of our train system. Aside from these, they wanted to give a fund to our countrymen in Visayas and Mindanao especially the Yolanda survivors.

            It seems that Sec. Abaya is fooling the train commuters. Why? First, the Congress has already allotted a budget for the maintenance of MRT which included in our 2015 national budget. If this is not enough, why he didn’t ask to Congress for additional budget? The Senate said that it was enough to cover up all the expenses for the maintenance of MRT. Secondly, it is not a duty of DOTC to give funds to help the typhoon victims. It is a duty of DSWD, NDRRMC and other government agencies. They should only focus on transportation; don’t meddle to the things that they are not beyond their responsibilities. And one of their major responsibility is to serve the public commuters. This time it seems that they are thirsty to earn money from them through MRT-LRT increase.

            By the way, the fare increase is a sole decision of the DOTC. The Metro Rail Transport Corp. had no part when they created about that decision. The truth is, the DOTC is not consulting the private investors before they ratify their decision.