Bayan Sec. Gen. Renato Reyes during the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing on the MRT3 and PUV modernization.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON
The planned P5-fare increase in the Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1) to be used for its line extension project would be “unfair” to commuters, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said Tuesday.
Reyes said this in response to the announcement of the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), operator of the LRT-1, that the increase will “assure” the construction of its Sucat, Las Piñas and Bacoor stations.
READ: LRMC: Fare hike to be used for LRT-1 extension
“Napaka-unfair po nitong arrangement na ito. Supposedly, ito yung malaking kumpanya na marami daw kapital na mag-aahon sa kalagayan ng LRT, pero ang kinakalabasan eh tayo tayo rin pala ho ang sasalo ng risk,” Reyes said over dzMM.
(This arrangement is very much unfair. Supposedly, this company claimed to have a huge capital that would lift the situation of the LRT, but it turns out we will be the ones to shoulder the risk.)
Reyes questioned why the LRT management is putting the financial burden on the commuters when in fact the LRMC promised to invest for the project.
“Bakit ho commuters ang isasangkalan para matuloy ang proyekto samantalang nung nag-bid sila sa proyekto na ‘yan, sila ang nangako na mamumuhunan, sa kanilang bulsa manggagaling yung extension?” asked Reyes.
(Why should the commuters be at stake just to push for the project when upon bidding, they promised to invest on it, that the funds for the extension would come from their pockets.)
He also said Bayan has raised the issue on the government’s contract with the LRMC to the Supreme Court last 2015, but no resolution has since been given.
“Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring resolusyon yung matagal na naming kwestyon sa kontrata ng LRMC,” he said.
(Until now, there is still no resolution for our long-time question about the contract with the LRMC.) /jpv