Aquino says MRT, LRT fare hikes ‘justified, necessary’
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III on Friday insisted that the fare hikes for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) were justified and necessary.
President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Aquino, who was in Romblon for a series of inspections and inaugurations, said it was about time the ticket prices for the three lines—MRT, LRT Line 1 and Line 2—were raised.
“Gusto nating pagandahin (yung mga linya), kailangan mong dagdagan ng units, kailangan mong palitan ’yung signaling system, kailangan mong baguhin ’yung radyo, kailangan ’yung mga riles … (We want to improve the lines, we need to add more units, we need to replace the signaling system, we need to change the radio and improve the rails …)” the President told media.
Earlier in the week, various groups asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order against the fare hike.
Aquino echoed his officials’ arguments that the rest of the country should not be made to pay for public transportation available only to residents of Metro Manila. He said each passenger pays only P15 when it should be P60.
“86 million Filipinos are paying for the P45 difference,” Aquino said in Filipino.
Aquino said those outside Metro Manila have long been asking for better infrastructure and public transport.
The President explained that raising the fare will reduce the government subsidy for the trains’ operations, making it possible to allot funds for the improvement of the system.
He also argued that only a few people reacted negatively against the move.
“We have people monitoring the situation and they said there were not that many reactions against the hike,” Aquino said in Filipino.
It was impossible to just ignore the problem and pray there won’t be any problems, he said. “Kapag sunud-sunod na bumigay ’yan, nagkaroon ng aksidente, aberya, may nasaktan, eh balik na naman sa amin ang kasalanan (If the train breaks down, causing accident and injuring people, we will again be blamed for it),” he said.
Aquino said it is only just for those using the system to pay more for it.
“Makatwiran naman yung (kung) ’ikaw ang nakikinabang, baka naman pwedeng dagdagan mo ang bayad mo,” Aquino said.
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