Senate to issue reso vs LRT, MRT fare hikes, VAT on toll

The Senate will issue a resolution urging President Benigno Aquino III to suspend the impending imposition of VAT on toll and fare hikes on mass rail transit systems in Metro Manila, Sen. Joker Arroyo said Wednesday. At a press conference on Thursday, Arroyo said that there is already a resolution being circulated among senators that would urge Aquino to suspend the impending fee increases. "The idea is not to proceed... not now. Mahirap ang buhay ngayon," he said. He echoed the sentiment of Sen. Manny Villar that the government does not need to increase the fees it is charging the public because it is not even spending its budget. "The government has no right to impose additional charges or taxes that burden people if in return they will not spend the money that they collect," said Arroyo. "When the government taxes and the citizens pay, the citizens expect that the money that they give to the government should be spent [on] them." In an interview on Wednesday, Aquino said the fare hikes on MRT and LRT 1 and 2 are necessary as this would mean less subsidy from the government. Every day, around 500,000 commuters take the MRT (North Ave. in Quezon City to Taft Avenue Extension in Pasay City) while the LRT Line 1 has over half a million commuters and LRT Line 2 is used by 250,000 people. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News