Workers, commuting public launch alliance vs. train fare hike, privatization

*press release from RILES Network

As the Aquino government continues to insist on increasing fare in the MRT this month, the riding public intensified efforts to oppose the fare hike by forming an alliance on the first day of September. 

RILES or Riles Laan sa Sambayanan Network was launched this morning in a protest action and signature drive at the MRT Cubao southbound station. RILES is spearheaded by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Anakpawis Partylist, representing workers and poor people who are the majority of MRT commuters. 

“MRT, LRT, and train systems in general should be for public service. And they should remain so especially in these times when the public is already burdened so much by rising prices and depressed wages,” said Sammy Malunes, RILES Network spokesperson. 

Coping with price hikes

Malunes explained how a Metro Manila minimum-wage earner would find it hard to cope with an increased fare by citing a scenario: 

“If the train fare goes up to P25, as the Aquino government says, a minimum wage worker who commutes everyday would already pay at least P50 for transportation. If he spends a meager P50 for lunch and food at work, he will already be spending P100 for a day's work. That's already one-fourth of his P404 minimum wage! How will the workers be able to allocate for his family's food, electric and water bills, education needs, among others?” Malunes asked. 

“Instead of extracting more from our hard-earned money, the government should do the opposite – it should provide more social services, which should include mass transportation through the LRT-MRT.” 

Malunes was also a worker who served as union president of Pinag-isang lakas ng Manggagawa sa Metro-LRT(Piglas-LRT), a union under the KMU, in 1995-2000. 

Public service, not profit

RILES also called on the Aquino government to scrap all plans to sell the LRT-MRT to private firms. 

“The government wants to raise fares to make MRT more attractive to private corporations, to show that they can profit from investing in it. Privatizing the MRT will only make profits, and not public service, its main basis for operation. We have seen this during the initial operation of the MRT,” Malunes said.  

“But we insist: the train should be for the people. Ang riles ay dapat ilaan sa sambayanan.” #