LRT, MRT to defer fare hikes; militants to question adjustments in court

Despite their announcement they will defer fare hikes for the Light and Metro Rail Transit systems, transportation authorities might still be questioned before the court if they eventually impose the approved fare adjustments. The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the adjustments will be deferred pending the submission of the proposed rates to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). “After our consultation with LTFRB, implementation of the approved fare adjustment will be 30 days after compliance with the publication of the requirement," Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) spokesman Hernando Cabrera said in a news release posted Saturday on the LRTA website. Cabrera said they cannot give a definite time frame as to when the fare adjustment will finally be implemented. Despite the deferment, a militant group vowed to stage more protest actions and threatened to question the fare hike before the court, saying the LRTA has no authority to increase fare rates. “The fare hike is a done deal. The so-called consultations with the LTFRB are a joke. The LTFRB cannot overturn the decisions of the LRTA and DOTC. The LTFRB is in fact an attached agency under the DOTC. So this consultation is just the government talking to itself. The people are not even involved in the process," Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said. But Cabrera cited as basis for the increases Executive Order No. 603, where the LRTA has to consult the LTFRB prior to any adjustment in its fare and comply with the publication requirements. On the other hand, the DOTC also mandated the MRT Line 3 to consult the LTFRB on its proposed fare adjustment. He said the DOTC had also approved a fare adjustment requested by MRT 3. The fare increase for LRTA’s Lines 1 and 2 systems, as well as that of MRT 3, was originally scheduled for implementation on March 1. Cabrera said the LRTA Board reaffirmed the approval of the previous provisional fare adjustment of an P11 base fare plus P1 per succeeding kilometer for the LRT 1 and 2. With the adjusted fare levels, LRTA’s average fare rate will be P19 for an average of eight kilometers, while that of MRT 3 will be P20 for an average of 8.25 kilometers. Discounts not enough “To cushion the impact of the fare adjustment and in view of the issues raised during the public consultation last February 4 and 5, the LRTA and DOTC likewise approved the grant of 20 percent discount to students," Cabrera said. But Bayan said the 20-percent discount for students is not enough to offset the fare increases. “Students will still pay more. Those paying the minimum fare will still pay P1 more. Students paying the maximum fare will still pay P5 more. The burden is still there," Reyes said. According to Reyes, “The LRTA says it is invoking Executive Order 603 as the basis of its authority. This EO is a Marcos-era edict that tramples on the rights of the commuters. It does not even require the LRTA to hold public hearings when it raises fares. All it says it that the LRTA needs to consult the ‘Board of Transportation.’ The people are not involved in the process." Earlier, the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) already expressed its willingness to give Stored Value (SV) Tickets as non-wage benefits to its employees. — LBG, GMA News