NEWS: Planned MRT fare hike to test PNoy's political will

[ghosthunter]

Stolen from:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/197321/p...loppositionist

Planned MRT fare hike to test PNoy's political will—oppositionist
07/29/2010 | 08:09 PM

“Do you want to be right or do you want to be popular?"

An opposition lawmaker posed this rhetorical question for President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday, saying that the planned increase in the fare of Metro Rail Transit 3 will test the chief executive’s political will.

In a news forum in Quezon City, Rep. Danilo Suarez of Quezon province said that the MRT project was approved during the presidency of Corazon Aquino; started under President Fidel Ramos; inaugurated during the time of President Joseph Estrada; and paid during the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Suarez said the MRT eliminated 9,000 buses in EDSA, reduced pollutant emissions from vehicles, and provided commuters with trips that strictly observed time schedules.

If not for the MRT, Suarez said, the 9,000 buses will return to ply daily again along EDSA, which would turn the major urban artery into a veritable car park.

“(Magiging) car park yang EDSA, walang gagalaw diyan (kung) lagyan mo ng 9,000 na buses araw araw (EDSA will turn into a car park, nothing will move there if you put in 9,000 buses daily)," he said.

“It reflects the principle of the government of what we call equity in transportation between a rich man and a poor man. That is mass transit," Suarez said.

Despite these benefits, the government is at the losing end as it is subsidizing a large part of the operational cost.

On Thursday, Transportation and Communications secretary Jose de Jesus bared the plan to increase MRT fares, following Aquino's State of the Nation Address which exposed, among others, a decision of the past Arroyo administration that kept down MRT fares at the expense of sustainable service. (See: MRT fare hike looms — DOTC)

“Ngayon, kung ititigil ang subsidy at itataas mo ang pamasahe, magagalit sa iyo ang sumasakay. Ngunit tama yung gagawin mo. Kaya abangan natin. Makikita yung kanyang prinsipyo. Do you want to be popular or do you want to be right," Suarez reiterated.

(Now if you stop the subsidy and increase fares, commuters will get mad at you. But you would be doing right. So let’s wait and see. We will find out about your principles. Do you want to be popular or do you want to be right?)

He however said the decision of the past administrations to subsidize MRT operations may be wrong, “but there is an issue of social consciousness."

During that time, the country was reeling from economic problems and we did not want to add more burdens on our commuters, Suarez added.—Amita O. Legaspi/JV, GMANews.TV

[ghosthunter]

IMHO, the government financial subsidy for the MRT/LRT should stop.

It is really unsustainable in the long run.

[ghosthunter]

Stolen from:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/197257/m...ike-looms-dotc

MRT fare hike looms — DOTC
07/29/2010 | 10:06 AM


The 800,000 commuters serviced by the MRT 3 should brace themselves for a looming fare hike some time this year.

Although no decision has been made yet on how high the increase will be, DOTC chief Jose "Ping" de Jesus said on Unang Balita Thursday morning that the studies on what will be an equitable fare are scheduled to be completed in August.

"We're studying what an equitable fare would be," De Jesus said, explaining that they will be looking into several aspects like affordability, cost of operation and providing the service and the ridership, which he says has increased.

A higher fare is unavoidable, as the government is losing money on the build-lease-transfer scheme that covers the MRT 3. De Jesus said the MRT 3 fare has remained unchanged, even though the cost of everything has gone up.

He explained that while the owner is guaranteed a return on their equity, the government subsidizes a large part of the cost, exactly how much, however, is yet to be determined.

"It is the government that fills the gap between what it generates and what it has to pay," said De Jesus.

The LRT will also have an increase in its fare.

"Isasabay narin natin yun, dahil ganun din ang situation dun. The numbers may be different but the situation is similar," De Jesus said.

Meanwhile, the MRT-LRT loop closing is set to reach completion at the end of the year. The 17-kilometer MRT 3 which stretches from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City will be linked to the LRT 1, which goes from Baclaran to Monumento. — Carmela Lapeña/RSJ, GMANews.TV

[CVT]

Government intervention should only be for a period of time. It cannot be forever. Let the free market chart its own course...

In the case of the MRT,- iyong mga nakurakot na (in the past), is now a burden for the public.... Sana lang, ibaon ng buhay ang mga kumita ng ilegal dito....

10.4K:shazam:

[wowiesy]

This would set the tone for other issues similar to this... like:

- fuel / pump price hikes (although deregulated na)
- electricity price hikes (Meralco in the limelight)
- Toll Rates hikes / taxes on toll roads
- Fare hikes
- Wage hikes

On the part of governance, ilagay sa tama. Agree ako. Pag tama na ang takbo, let it run its course naturally.

I also agree with Rep. Suarez. These issues will be a test of political will for the current administration. "Do you want to be popular or right?"

Next question dito is for the people themselves... nung inilagay nyo ang Aquino administration in power last elections on the platform of corruption.. yung campaign communication na bababa ang mga presyo kapag walang corruption ... better ang government services kapag walang corruption... tama... but better service doesn't necessarily mean cheap... with the current buying power of the people, it will also be a test of political will of the people themselves na sikmurain yung mga adjustments brought about by these principled actions...

on the other hand, 1 month na ang PNoy administration, mukhang tahimik pa rin ang mga militant groups... does this mean that they are trying to find a weakness in the administration that they would pounce on? or honeymoon period?

[Monseratto]

According to De Jesus, the ideal fare is supposed to PhP 45.00. Goverment/Taxpayer pays PhP 30.00/ passenger. He says its unfair for the taxpayer since a majority do not use the MRT/LRT. Rather use the billions to improve the country, it is indeed unfair to only help those living in Metro Manila.

When the MRT first went on-line in the late 90s, the fare was PhP35.00. Walang sumakay. Erap ordered to lower prices. Eversince, di na tumass ang fare for more than a decade.

[ghosthunter]

According to De Jesus, the ideal fare is supposed to PhP 45.00. Goverment/Taxpayer pays PhP 30.00/ passenger. He says its unfair for the taxpayer since a majority do not use the MRT/LRT. Rather use the billions to improve the country, it is indeed unfair to only help those living in Metro Manila.

When the MRT first went on-line in the late 90s, the fare was PhP35.00. Walang sumakay. Erap ordered to lower prices. Eversince, di na tumass ang fare for more than a decase.

With people more used to riding the MRT today, a rise in fare price might not affect the total number of MRT commuters. It might benefit the regular MRT riders because it would decongest the trains a bit as well.

[vito corleone]

i agree with the removal of the gov't subsidy to the mrt operation. . .it's not right for the whole country to shoulder the cost in favor of metro manila commuters

[CVT]

According to De Jesus, the ideal fare is supposed to PhP 45.00. Goverment/Taxpayer pays PhP 30.00/ passenger. He says its unfair for the taxpayer since a majority do not use the MRT/LRT. Rather use the billions to improve the country, it is indeed unfair to only help those living in Metro Manila.

When the MRT first went on-line in the late 90s, the fare was PhP35.00. Walang sumakay. Erap ordered to lower prices. Eversince, di na tumass ang fare for more than a decade.

Sorry for being a bug here as I have not ridden the MRT and I have ridden the LRT years ago....

With the information above,- does this mean that the fare is P15? Dulu't dulo na ba ito?

10.4K:shazam:

[fourtheboys96]

remove the subsidy. it is too much. at the same time, remove the decomposing buses on the EDSA. in short, improve the transportation system. give the passengers reasonable choices.