Gov’t urged to look for other ways to fund MRT, LRT

Instead of asking Metro Manila commuters to shell out more money for train rides, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) should look for ways to increase nonrail revenues to get additional funds, according to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano, the Senate majority leader, said that one thing the DOTC could consider was increasing its income from advertisements and commercial spaces in train stations.

“The government cannot choose the easy route by placing more burden on the commuters through a fare hike. It must be the one to think of ways to augment the income from the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) for it to be able to meet its obligations,” he said in a statement.

Cayetano also criticized the timing of the fare increase announcement which was done just before the holiday break. The fare hike, which would increase MRT and LRT fares by 50 to 80 percent, would take effect on Jan. 4.

Administration officials earlier said the fare increase was long-delayed and necessary as it would free up the subsidies for the commuter trains, allowing the money to be used for other important social services.

They also pointed out that the subsidy for the LRT and MRT burdens Filipinos in the Visayas and Mindanao who do not get to use the Metro Manila train systems.

Cayetano also questioned the need for the fare increase, pointing out that the MRT and LRT lines were set to receive subsidy funds as well as allocations for their repair and rehabilitation in the 2015 budget.

As such, the improvement of train services should not be used to justify the fare hike, he said.

But Cayetano added that if a fare increase was inevitable, the DOTC should make the impact easier to bear for vulnerable groups by offering discounts or vouchers for free rides.