Riders ask P. Noy: Don't increase MRT, LRT fares
MANILA, Philippines - A commuters' rights group said Thursday that it's planning to directly ask President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to stop the Department of Transportation and Communications' (DOTC) plan to increase the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) fares.
The National Council for Commuters Protection (NCCP) said they plan to send President Aquino a letter to inform him of their opposition to the fare increase plan.
DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus earlier told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda that aside from the MRT, the agency is also studying the possibility of increasing the LRT fares.
De Jesus said the government has been losing billions of pesos subsidizing the public's MRT and LRT fares.
For the MRT alone, De Jesus said that the government loses P5 billion to P6 billion a year on subsidies.
On top of that, the government also pays the MRT owners for the maintenance of the railway system.
The MRT is owned by the MRT Corporation. The railway system project was implemented under the government's build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.
De Jesus said that the MRT's fare in 1998 or 12 years ago was originally at P30. It was brought down to P15 to make it more affordable for the commuters.
He said that due to several factors, such as inflation, the government is now spending more in subsidies for the MRT and LRT.
Despite this, De Jesus assured that the DOTC is carefully reviewing the proposed fare increase. He said that the main points of the fare hike study are the cost of operations and maintenance and its affordability to the commuters.
The DOTC chief clarified that the government is not trying to burden to commuters, adding that the public should think long term.
If the government does not increase fares, the railway system will deteriorate and commuters themselves will suffer if it becomes inefficient, De Jesus said.
The NCCP, however, insisted that it's the government's responsibility to subsidize mass transport.
It said that the government should realize that the MRT fares already eat up 10% of a minimum wage workers' money.
There were reports that from a maximum fare of P15, the DOTC is studying to increase it to P25.
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Di lang free meron pang pocket money
"House Deputy Majority Leader Roman Romulo said the amount will translate into a subsidized rate of P47.77 each per commuter"
And since the fare of mrt/lrt ranges from 10 - 15 pesos ( distance-based fare structure) then this translates that the commuters are being paid (free) by 32.77 pesos to ride the mrt. UNBELIEVABLE! 42.77 - 15 = 32.77 PESOS.
Now this is what you call @!$@ and I'm not surprise why people in Visaya's or Mindanao is complaining about this use of taxpayers money, since they're not benefitting the use MRT/LRT
I agree with
I agree with shinzoleyte......My point is not so deep with the concept of shinzoleyte..
I'm not a frequent rider or user of lrt-mrt..but in need i find it usually convenient
and unusually very cheap.....noon ngang college pa ako....wala pang aircon ang lrt at
talagang siksikan din at napakainit......fix p ang fare nun n i think 6.50(80's pa)
Last time i used mrt 2days ago, a choice of not using my car....talagang im very
supprised 12 peso from pasay to ortigas..........napakabilis at convenient....
Lots of company also benefitted from this, especially ung mga delivery boys...
naka-aircon k p..without traffic..........
Ride on the bus (anyway usually walang pasahero) and manage your time for your
convinience......walking is not bad and actually good for your health...
Ms. Elvira Medina...most probably di ka naman sumasakay s Mrt..nakakotse k rin.....pati
problema ni koko sinasabit mo pa sa interview mo.....biro mo umalis ka pa sa meeting
mo for an interview with ANC.....
Come on.........gusto na lang ba nating puro joy ride, joy ride na kay Gloria, ayaw nyo
ng marathon kay Pnoy......
NCCP Request is Selfish
The NCCP's request to the government for it to conitnue subsidizing the MRT and LRT is selfish. Why would a taxpayer like me, who is not from Manila, would pay for something that I don't even use on a daily basis? By asking the government for a continued subsidy, in effect it's asking all non-NCR Philippine taxpayers to pay for something they don't even use. It's not a good way of spending taxes, for from where the government get the money for the subsidy if not from the taxpayers?
I say it should be MRT and LRT passengers who should pick up the tab. It is unfair to spread the responsibility to everybody. As a taxpayer, I'd like to see my taxes and that of others, spent wisely and responsibly. This stems from the unfortunate "libre" mentality of us Pinoys - we have this thing for things that are "free". I'd prefer that the government spend on things that are universal in nature like health insurance but not for things that are enjoyed only by a few. No offense to people living in NCR and taking the MRT and LRT, but you should pick the tab - not the entire nation.