DOTC's Abaya: LRT-MRT fare hike was green-lit by Cabinet cluster

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) secured the approval of the Economic Development cluster before ordering a fare increase for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT), and was implemented as oil prices have gone down, its top official told a Senate panel on Monday.

 

"Hindi lang po kami ang nag-di-desisyon na departamento lang po namin. Kinakausap ko po ang Economic Development cluster, ang DOF at NEDA, kung kailan na ba ipapatupad," Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told the Senate committee on public services.

 

The Cabinet-level cluster is led by the Department of Finance (DOF) chief with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as the secretariat.

 

Other members of the cluster include the chief of the DOTC, Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Energy, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Tourism (DOT).

 

Abaya said the Economic Cluster reached a consensus to raise fares days before the December 18 publication of the announcement of LRT-MRT fare adjustments when the Supreme Court (SC) was on a holiday break.

 

The Cabinet official noted the increase has been an issue since 2011, saying the public can always bring the matter before the SC even after its implementation.

 

"For the last two years, it has been a continuing question of media, and we have always fended it off," he said. 

 

"It was not intended that way... kasi kahit ipatupad naman ito, may karapatan naman ang publiko mag-file sa korte," Abaya added.

 

If the call for a fare increase was raised in 2011, Senator Francis Escudero questioned the DOTC why it was implemented only in 2015. 

 

"If it was the right thing to do, why wait to do the right thing. If you're waiting for the right time, there will never actually be a right time for that," he said.

 

In response, Abaya said the hefty drop in oil prices opened up a window for the LRT-MRT fare increase, as the situation gave the public more options when it comes to their daily commute.

 

"When fuel started dropping... bus fares, jeepney fares have started to drop. Now, we have options for our people to choose. That way, that was contributory in making the call," he said.

 

Oil prices have dropped by more than 50 percent since June 2014, the World Bank said in its latest Commodity Outlook report.

 

Asked by Escudero if the DOTC is open to reducing the train fares once oil prices resume an upward trend, Abaya said the state of the mass rail system should also be taken into consideration.

 

"I think we should go beyond the prices of other commodities. We should think of our rails," the DOTC chief said.

 

"We all dream of having rail systems somewhat comparable to Singapore and Japan. We are playing catch up..." he added. – VS, GMA News