Bayan Muna urges SC to act on 2-year-old petition vs train fare hike

Party-list group Bayan Muna has prodded the Supreme Court (SC) to act on their more than two year old petition that sought to nullify the fare increase being implemented at the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2.

In their motion to resolve submitted to the high court on Thursday, Bayan Muna also asked the high court to order the refund of the monies purportedly illegally collected to the commuting public.

According to the petitioners, the series of tragedies that struck MRT is proof that the fare increase has not actually served its purpose.

“Despite the much-questioned and much-protested fare hike, continues to give its passengers poor and unsatisfactory service,” said the petitioners led by Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate, former party-list Representative Neri Comenares, Antonio Cruz, Yvonne Luna and Carl Ala.

“It continues to experience technical problems that endanger the safety of the riding public. News about its malfunctions has now become so common and complaints from the public have been increasing,” they added.

Under the rates being questioned, passengers of LRT Line 1 from Baclaran in Pasay to Monumento in Caloocan City and vice versa are now charged P30 for single journey tickets and P29 for stored value tickets, from the maximum P20 fare.

Commuters of the newer LRT Line 2 from Recto in Manila to Santolan in Pasig and vice versa are being charged P25 for single journey tickets and P24 for stored value tickets, from the previous P15 fare.

Meanwhile, passengers taking the MRT-3 from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City and vice versa are now paying P28 from the preceding P15 for stored value and single journey tickets.

The MRT-3 has been experiencing a daily breakdown – among the latest was the uncoupling of a train that has passengers evacuating and walking off the train tracks near the Buendia station.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) already terminated its maintenance contract for the MRT-3 with Busan Universal Railway Inc. (BURI) and filed a criminal complaint against former Transportation officials.

The petitioners asserted that such move by the DOTr is an admission of the sorry state of the metro’s train system.

“We could not agree more. In almost three years of this fare hike, we saw that nothing significant happened to the supposed service improvement in the MRT3/LRT Lines,” the petitioners said.

The petitioners also said the fare hike was likewise implemented without public consultation which is one of the primary requirements under the law.

“Should the Honorable Court find with the Petitioners and declare the absolute nullity of the assailed Department Order No. 2014-014 [that implemented the fare hike], an across-the-board refund to the riding public is likewise prayed for as part the reliefs just and equitable under the premises,” the petitioners reiterated.                       /kga