MRT/LRT FARE INCREASE HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE!

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has a lot to explain in detail on the forthcoming increase in fares for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 to almost double their current rates.

The DOTC itself admitted that the last fare increase for LRT-1 was in 2003. That means previous administrations have managed to keep the fares affordable despite the government’s subsidy.

For MRT-3, fares have never been raised. Instead, it was even reduced from the original range of P17 to P34 in 1999 to P 12 to P20 in 2000 to the current P10 to P15. So if past governments can do it, why can’t the Aquino administration?

According to the DoTC, LRT-2’s fares, on the other hand, have never been increased. For MRT-3, fares have never been raised. Instead, it was even reduced from the original range of P17 to P34 in 1999 to P 12 to P20 in 2000 to the current P10 to P15.

Second, how was the fare increases arrived at? The DOTC must come out with the computation in public, including the identity and qualification of the person who did it for the people to see for themselves if the added fares are justified.

Third, DOTC Sec. Emilio Joseph Abaya said with the fare increase, some P2 billion will be saved from the government’s subsidy for development projects and relief operations in other parts of the country. He has been saying this since the DOTC’s first attempt to raise the LRT and MRT fares.

Pero hanggang ngayon, wala syang maituro kahit isang particular na proyekto na paggagamitan ng mamemenos mula sa subsidy ng gobyerno. Wala siyang masabing lugar,  sino ang makikinabang, sino ang gagawa, para saan at iba pang partikular na detalye. All that Sec. Abaya can claim is that the P2 billion is good enough for 8,240 classrooms, 82 kilometers worth of farm-to-market roads, or 11,440 hectares’ worth of irrigated farmlands.

Anybody can issue this kind of claim anytime, anywhere without providing details.

Fourth, with oil prices on the downtrend, electricity costs will expectedly be on the decline as well. So why must LRT and MRT fares be raised to astronomical levels when its most expensive need which is electricity is getting cheaper.

Under the fare increases, the full MRT-3 route from North Ave. to Taft Avenue will cost P28 from the current P15. From the Cubao station to Ayala Ave. , the fare will go up from P12 to P20.

Fifth: Where do LRT and MRT3 earnings go to? How come practically no improvements were ever made since the Aquino Administration started? There’s supposed to be a P517-million maintenance contract to PH Trams which is controlled by the relatives of the wife of former MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol. 

That translates to more than P1 million a day. But from broken tracks, to stinking toilets to non-working escalators to the decreasing number of running trains, everything’s deteriorating in the MRT3. 

Why did this happen and why did the DOTC ignore all these mess?  I’m not against an improved mass rail transit system but let’s be vigilant, people. There’s more than meets the eye here. 30