TRAIN commuters and at least two labor groups are set to stage protests against the train fare increase that the Aquino administration is set to impose today (Jan. 4) purportedly to modernize and improve services at Metro Manila’s two train lines.
Members of the Riles Laan sa Sambayanan (Riles) Network were busy on Saturday seeking asking other train commuters to protest the increase by clapping their hands inside train stations on Sunday and on Monday when they will ask the court to stop the fare hike.
At least two labor groups, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Partido ng Manggagawa, said they will join protests while Riles Network and the party-list group Bayan Muna file petitions before the Supreme Court to stop the increase on Monday.
But the Department of Transportation and Communications only ignored the protests with its spokesman virtually challenging them to try to stop the fare increase.
“We respect their freedom to file cases and express themselves,” said DOTC spokesperson Migs Sagcal.
“However, we will not let these actions prevent us from modernizing and improving our services, especially for those who rely on our rail systems for access to jobs and education,” he said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares earlier expressed suspicion the DOTC purposely scheduled the increase on a Sunday to head off any protest.
“There are no courts, and Congress is not in session, and most people have a hangover from the New Year,” said Colmenares, who said no holiday could shut down street protests as was done on three previous attempts to raise train fares.
The DOTC announced last December that train fares would be raised on both the MRT and the Light Rail Transit, along Taft and Aurora Avenues, with an increased base fare of P11 and P1 per additional kilometer starting Jan. 4.
Based on the new fares, an end-to-end trip on the MRT-3 will rise from P15 to P28, on the LRT-1 from P20 to P30 and LRT-2 from P15 to P25.
But Colmenares questioned the need for a fare increase when the government has already allotted P2 billion for its rehabilitation.
Riles Network convenor Sammy Malunes said the DOTC should stop lying and explain where the proceeds of the planned fare increase will go when service remains poor amid several incidents of technical glitches in its operations.