Taas pasahe sa LRT 1, LRT 2 simula Aug. 2

NAHAHARAP ang mga pasahero ng Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) at Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2) sa pagtataas ng pamasahe simula sa darating na Aug. 2.

Sa isang pahayag ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) noong nakaraang Lunes ay kanilang sinabi na magkakaroon ng pagtataas ng pamasahe sa dalawang rail lines.

Ang minimum boarding fee para sa LRT 1 at LRT 2 ay magiging P13.19 mula sa dating P11 at P1.21 naman kada kilometro mula sa dating P1 kada kilometro.

“The fare adjustments would take effect after publication in a newspaper of general circulation on June 19, 26 and July 3. The last LRT fare increase was implemented in 2015. DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista approved the implementation of the fare adjustment following a Cabinet meeting at Malacanang on June 6,” wika ni DOTr assistant secretary Jorgette Aquino.

Matatandaan na noong April ay pinahinto ni President Marcos ang planong pagtataas ng pamasahe ng LRT 1 & 2 dahil sa tumataas na inflation rate noong mga nakaraang buwan.

Subalit sa latest data ng Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) ang headline inflation ay bumaba ng 6.1 porsiyento noong May mula sa 6.6 porsiyento ng nakaraang April dahil na rin sa mataas na presyo ng pagkain at transportasyon.

Ang May inflation rate ay siyang pinakamababa mula ng magkaroon ng 5.4 porsiento noong nakaraang taon sa ganon din buwan.

“The fare adjustment would enhance the services, amenities and technical capacities of the LRT 1 and LRT 2 as the government aims to improve the public transport infrastructure. The government wants to make rail services more accessible, convenient and efficient for commuters. Thus, we believe that this fare adjustment will contribute to maintaining affordable mass transportation services for the two commuter rail lines,” dagdag ni Aquino.

Ayon sa Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) na may plano ang ahensiya na mag allocate ng P110 million kung saan ang nasabing amount ay 97 porsiento ng P114 million na projected additional rail revenues. Ilalaan ito sa maintenance at iba pang operating expenses kasama na ang kinakailangan repairs at upkeep ng rail system at facilities.

Sa ganitong paraan ay magkakaron ng improvement ang turnaround time at masisiguro ang timely preventive maintenance activities upang magkaron ng optimal performance.

Samantala, ang Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) ay muling maghahain ng kanilang fare hike petition sa darating na dalawang linggo.

“In the next two weeks, we will re-file and thereafter, the process will be followed until such time that full approval is given by the secretary through the Rail Regulatory Unit of DOTr,” saad ni MRT 3 director ng operations Oscar Bongon.

Binatikos naman ng militanteng grupo ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan ang ginawang approval ng DOTr para sa fare increase ng LRT 1& 2 at kanilang sinabi na mismo si President Marcos ang nag-utos na ipagpaliban muna ang pagtataas ng pamasahe dahil sa nararanasang mataas ng inflation rate sa bansa.

“So, the official policy is really to raise fares and burden the people. That much is clear now. The policy is truly insensitive to the plight of the Filipino commuters. The DOTr has not provided us by email or by any electronic means its resolution on the fare hike. We have not been furnished a copy of the NEDA opinion on the fair hike,” ayon sa Makabyan.

Dagdag pa ng Makabayan na ang mga pasahero ay hindi binibigyan ng kahalagahan sa ganitong pagkakataon at wala talagang opinyon sa ginawang desisyon.  LASACMAR