Bishop pushes workers' pay increase amid LRT, MRT fare hikes

If the government is planning to raise fares of the Light and Metro Rail Transit, it should also give workers a corresponding hike in wages, a Catholic archbishop said. Lipa (Batangas) Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said ordinary workers will be hit the hardest if fares are raised at this time. "Ang higit na nangangailangan diyan MRT at LRT ay mga mahihirap. Bukod sa dagdag sa pasahe, dapat dagdag din ang sweldo at magkaroon ng hanapbuhay ang mga tao," Arguelles said in an article posted Thursday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. He added the government should subsidize such services for the poor to show true public service. “Pwede naman na ang kakulangan sa pasahe ay i-subsidize ng gobyerno. Nakukurakot lang ito ng mga mayayaman. Dapat sana ang public service ay public service," he said. Meanwhile, Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francis de Leon said poor commuters will be the most affected by the fare hike and the increasing prices of basic commodities. Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III said a fare increase for the LRT and MRT is needed, although he assured the public the fare adjustment will be reasonable. Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II said last Thursday there is still no specific timetable, but hinted the fare hikes for the LRT and MRT may come next year. — LBG, GMA News