Forget fare hike, address commuters’ woes, DOTR urged
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) was urged to exhaust its powers towards alleviating commuters’ problems instead of exercising authority beyond its jurisdiction to push for fare hike.
Gabriela Party-list reminded the DoTR of its mandate “to provide the country with efficient, effective, and secure transportation systems,” which it has so far failed to do.
“It goes without saying that the fare hike petitioned by no less than the DOTr, who also happens to be the approving body, is a betrayal of public interest, which should be their top-most concern.
“Bakit hindi ang sira-sirang bagon ng MRT at LRT, at milya-milyang haba ng pila ang solusyunan niyo? Kesa makagaan, pabigat pa kayo sa mga pasahero,” the group said in a statement.
Gabriela added that the proposed increase of up to P14 for the railways will significantly impact minimum wage earners.
The hike will take away 2.5 percent from ordinary workers’ meager P570/day income, while the privately owned MRT-3 for instance will earn an additional profit between P1.8 million and P3.8 million per day.
“It’s inhumane to take away from the paltry income of ordinary Filipinos who are struggling to put food on the table every day, only to add it to MRTC’s millions of daily profit. For the state-run LRT 1 and LRT 2, it should be properly budgeted by the government. Our taxes should go to services, like providing subsidy to transportation services,” the group added.
The group likewise called the attention of the President, and urged him to prevent the fare hikes.
