SC asked to stop LRT, MRT fare hike

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 10 years ago

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Monday led a petition filed in the Supreme Court to stop the fare increases in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

In a 58-page petition, the group asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order and/or a status quo ante against the fare increase.

The petition also asked the high court to nullify the order of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya authorizing the fare increase.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said Abaya has no authority to allow the fare increase as the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) does not have the similar authority as that of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which approves fare increases and rollbacks.

Reyes added that the LRTA Board resolution and the MRT3 office recommendations, which was used as basis for the increase, were neither published nor presented in any public “consultations.”

“The fare hike is without legal basis. The DOTC and its secretary cannot be the fare hike proponent, approving body and implementor all at the same time,” Reyes said.

“The fare hike cannot be valid without a proper public hearing where the proponents present all the basis for the fare hike and the public is given the opportunity to oppose it,” he added.

Aside from Bayan, the other petitioners are activist and former lawmaker Teodoro Casiño, former LRTA administrator Melquiades Robles, KMU chair Elmer Labog, Riles Network spokesman Sammy Malunes and Courage chair Ferdinand Gaite.

Anakbayan chair Vencer Crisostomo, Alliance of Health Workers president Jossel Ebesate, Kadamay chair Gloria Arellano, businessman Herman Tiu Laurel and Myrleon Peralta also joined the petition, as well as SSS union president Amorsolo Competente, commuter advocate Elvira Medina, commuters Maria Donna Grey Miranda and Angelo Villanueva Suarez of Tren, labor leaders Jose Sonny Matula of the FFW and David Diwa of NLU, journalist James Bernard Relativo of Tren and Giovanni Tapang of Agham.

Former Congressman Augusto Syjuco also filed a separate petition in the Supreme Court to stop the fare hike.