Bayan asks to suspend MRT-LRT fare hike over ‘continuing deterioration’ of trains

President Benigno Aquino III should order an “immediate and indefinite suspension” of the metro railways fare hike following a series of technical glitches and accidents involving its trains.

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the “continuing deterioration” of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) including the glitches that hit the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 should prompt the Aquino government to order a suspension on the fare hike implemented on January 2015.

“The government has lost all legal and moral basis to continue implementing the fare increase. Services continue to deteriorate every month,” Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr said in a statement Wednesday.

Reyes said cited the poor condition of the MRT and LRT, saying there are not enough trains, air conditioning systems are not working, long lines in train stations remain yet commuters pay for high fares.

During the opening of classes on Monday, only seven MRT-3 trains were deployed stranding thousands of commuters.

The MRT-3 was designed to serve 350,000 passengers daily but about 600,000 take its trains every day.

“It is the height of injustice. Commuters should at least be spared high fares in a time when government cannot even deliver the most basic train services,” he said.

He said that it is within the power of the Aquino government to lift the increase even a case contesting the fare hike is pending with the Supreme Court.

“A government with an ounce of compassion for its people will not allow this injustice to continue,” Reyes said .

He said Bayan filed a petition before the Supreme Court on January 5 against the fare hike but the high court has yet to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO). CC