MRT/LRT FARE HIKE IS UNACCEPTABLE…

A personal friend has just asked me what makes the increase in MRT and LRT fares unacceptable to a growing number of people.

First: PNoy’s government CANNOT PRESENT ANY DOCUMENTARY JUSTIFICATION for it – no computations, no studies, no explanation or breakdown of where revenues are going, no explanation on if the Arroyo Administration managed to keep the fares steady for some 6 or 7 years, WHY CAN’T THEY?

The only justification PNoy’s government has given so far is the purported savings than can be generated from government subsidies for MRT and LRT commuters. Savings for which they have already, SHAMELESSLY LIED ON.

Last Dec. 21 in inquirer.net, Transportation and Communications Sec. Joeph Abaya was quoted as saying that the P2 billion subsidy savings from the higher MRT fares will fund development projects and relief operations.. A little more than a week later, he declared that the subsidy savings, which HE LOWERED FROM P2 BILLION TO P1 BILLION, will go to the escrow account for private owners of the MRT

All these WITHOUT any detailed explanation.

Second, practically NO IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE in the case of the MRT3. Among others, BROKEN TRACKS are increasing and experts have PUBLICLY WARNED that it is an ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.. Comfort rooms STINK in various stations. Until a few weeks ago, it was reported (by the office of Sen. Grace Poe if I’m right) that 10 out of 46 escalators are not working. I ride the MRT at last nce a week and believe  me, people, the airconditioning system is getting HOTTER as time passes, regardless of what tme of day it is.

All these despite the fact that a company identified with relatives of former MRT General Manager Al Vitangco,was awarded a P50-MILLION PLUS MONTHLY MIANTENANCE CONTRACT. And NO EFFORT has been made by PNoy’s government so far to compel that firm to explain.

Third: In the 2014 and 2015 national budget, HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of pesos will go to the rehabilitation and repair of the LRT and MRT. In the P22-billion supplemental budget which the PNoy government hurriedly asked for before 2014 ended, several billions more were allocated for the same purpose.

Pero sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, GUSTO pa rin tayong PAGDUSAHIN ng gobyerno ni PNoy. Para tayong ALKANSIYA, ANUMANG ORAS NA GUSTO NILANG KUNAN NG PERA, PUWEDE at hindi na kailangan ang paliwanag.

Ang tumanggap pa rin ng ganitong klaseng pagtrato ng gobyerno ni PNoy sa ating mga mahihirap at ordinaryong mga mamamayan,  HINDI ALAM ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG SALITANG DIGNIDAD. 30