‘Devious’ timing of LRT, MRT fare increase hit

MANILA, Philippines–Two lawmakers assailed the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for imposing a fare increase for the Light Rail Transit 1 and 2 (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) without public consultations and for announcing it during the holiday break.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares noted that the agency did not hold any hearing about the rate adjustment and that the timing of Secretary Joseph Abaya’s announcement apparently ensured that Congress would not be able to react fast enough to stop it.

“I call it deviousness because they (DOTC) have known for months that they will increase the fares but they never said anything during the numerous hearings in Congress. And suddenly on Dec. 20 they announce it, knowing it will take effect on a Sunday (Jan. 4) when the court is closed and nobody can stop them,” Colmenares said.

Meanwhile, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said the DOTC’s decision to start collecting higher fares on the first working day of 2015 was in keeping with the agency’s high-handed, lightning-fast manner in implementing the fare increases without conducting thorough public consultations.

“From out of nowhere, like despots and modern-day bureaucratic bullies to President Aquino’s avowed ‘Bosses,’ they slap totally unconscionable, arbitrary, unjustifiable rate increases on the helpless MRT-LRT commuters,” said Albano in a statement.

It was “ridiculous” for the DOTC to impose a fare hike when the LRT and MRT had yet to address the commuters’ mounting complaints about the trains’ safety and reliability.

Colmenares said that while his party-list group would file a petition for injunction on the fare rate hike, it may be too late for the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order on the collection of adjusted fares.

“I don’t think the Supreme Court will demand a refund for commuters who paid the higher fares because the TRO will only take effect on the day it is granted. This goes to show that they removed all remedy available to commuters,” said Colmenares.

Still, Colmenares said he remained hopeful that the high court would grant a permanent injunction on the fare hike just like in the case of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) in March, when the power distribution firm was ordered to return excess charges.