Lawmakers, group file TRO vs LRT, MRT fare hikes

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers and groups filed a petition at the Supreme Court on Tuesday for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the recently implemented fare hike in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito led the petitioners together with Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting, Ang Nars Partylist Rep. Leah Paquiz, Buhay Partylist Reps. Lito Atienza, Irwin Tieng and Mariano Michael Vellarde and former Cavite 3rd District Rep. Crispin "Boying" Remulla.

Representatives from groups Federation of Free Workers, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Partido Manggagawa and PS LINK also signed the petition, noting that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) failed to coordinate with the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regarding the LRT and MRT fare hikes.

The petitioners stressed that the DOTC does not have authority to order the fare hikes, making it null and void.

The LTFRB has the "adjudicatory power to determine, prescribe and approve and periodically review and adjust, reasonable fares, rates and other related charges, relative to the operation of public land transportation services provided by motorized vehicles," according to Executive Order 202.

The petitioners dubbed the fare hike as "heartless" considering that majority of LRT and MRT passengers are workers who can only afford to spend a small portion of their salary for transportation, according to a statement from Ejercito.

The respondents of the petition were LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez, DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, MRT 3 Office Officer-in-Charge Renato San Jose, Metro Rail Transit Corporation and Light Rail Manila Consortium Administrator Honorito Chaneco.

According to the petitioners, the implemented fare hike was inappropriate and unreasonable following th recent malfunctions that the MRT experienced.

Sen. Grace Poe earlier requested Abaya to submit a progress report on the MRT rehabilitation project.

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