'No LRT, MRT fare hike for now'

MANILA, Philippines - There will be no Light Railway Transit and Metro Railway Transit fare hike, at least for the time being, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II said yesterday.

“Walang plano ngayon, walang naka schedule, kung meron mang mabubuo na programa o schedule ay malalaman agad-agad ng publiko nang sa gayon ay malaman nila at makapagplano sila...kung ano ang dahilan, transparent ang process...makikita nila na hindi basta basta lamang ang mga bagay na ito,” Roxas told reporters after breezing through his confirmation at the Commission on Appointments.

Roxas’ statement is seen as some form of assurance from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) after many commuters complained about the impending fare hikes. Majority of the senators have also expressed their sentiments on the issue through Senate Resolution 692 filed recently by Senators Manny Villar, Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said he supports the resolution while Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, and Senators Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Antonio Trillanes IV said they want to become co-authors.

Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ramon Revilla Jr also supported the resolution.

Under the resolution, senators called on the executive department to defer the implementation of fare hikes in the mass train systems and the collection of value-added tax at the South Luzon Expressway.