Train transport should be for social service, commuters’ network reiterates

As the DOTC again announced that it will push through with the planned MRT and LRT fare hike by October or November, RILES (Riles Laaan sa Sambayanan) Network vowed to derail the scheme by intensifying public protests.

RILES is a loose network of MRT and LRT commuters, workers, students who oppose the fare hike and privatization of the train systems.

“The Aquino government wanted to implement the fare hike starting this month, but it postponed the move to a few months more because it saw the strong public reaction against it. What we do right now is the heightening of our opposition to the fare hike so the government will postpone it forever,” said Sammy Malunes, RILES Network spokesperson. 

“We contest Secretary Ping de Jesus’ unfounded argument that the proposed maximum fare of P30 for all train lines is affordable because the public can pay the amount in an aircon bus. In the first place, people prefer the train lines to the busses because fares are lower and the travel is faster.

“If the fare will increase to P30, it will eat up more than the recent P22 minimum wage increase for Metro Manila. Worse, it will raise the transportation cost of a worker who earns the minimum wage of P404 to at least 20%. Prices of all commodities have been increasing tremendously, so the government should devise ways of lessening the public’s burden by providing social services such as these transport systems. 

“The government should stop exploring the option of increasing fares. As a social service, the train transportation system should fully cater to our needs, not to our pockets’ ability to pay – and not, especially, to greedy corporations’ huge appetite for profit,” Malunes said. #