AN administration lawmaker on Wednesday defended the approved fare increase in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, and the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3).
National Unity Party Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Cavite said that, while it might not sit well with the riding public, “the decision will eventually redound to the common good.”
“It’s a question of political will. The government is doing what it believes is right. It made an unpopular decision for the common good,” he said.
Barzaga, a lawyer, said the Aquino administration has shown courage in pushing for the fare hike, which translates to more funds for social services.
“It’s a bitter pill to take. True courage is when you are criticized even before you start, but you start anyway,” added the senior legislator.
On Monday several lawmakers, which include Nationalist People’s Coalition Rep. Sherwin T. Gatchalian of Valenzuela, Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon of Kabataan and Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares, raised their opposition to the anticipated fare increase in LRT Lines 1 and 2 and the MRT 3, which, the transportation department said, will be implemented on January 4.
The lawmakers said the government should solve first the frequent breakdowns due to mismanagement before the implementation of the fare increases ranging from 50 percent to 87 percent.
Moreover, the fare increase, Barzaga said, is being done “in the spirit of justice and fairness” since citizens from Visayas and Mindanao also contribute to the subsidized operations of the train systems.
The government is paying P25 for every LRT passenger and P45 for every MRT passenger.
The Department of Transportation and Communications has said the long overdue fare increase will finally be implemented on January 4, 2015.
The base fare for the LRT lines 1 and 2 and the MRT will be P11 and an additional P1 will be charged for every kilometer from the station
of origin.
This means that a single journey ticket from Baclaran station to Roosevelt station will cost P30 from the present fare of P20.
Passengers, who use stored-value tickets for end-to-end trips on the LRT 1 and 2 will get a P1 discount.
For MRT 3 single journey and stored- value tickets from Taft station to North Avenue station, or vice versa, the journey will cost P28 from the current P15.
1 comment
REDOUND ?????? WTF Jovee !