P25 train fare hike too much for MM workers - TUCP

MANILA, Philippines - Minimum wage earners in Metro Manila will not be able to ride the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) if the government's proposed P25 fare hike is implemented, a labor group said Tuesday.

"We are calling on Secretary (Joseph Emilio) Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communication to reconsider this amount and come up with a fair and just figure. This P25 increase is too big for many of the 3.5 million minimum wage workers who rely on the MRT and the LRT trains for bringing them every day to and from their work place," TUCP executive vice president Gerard Seno said.

Seno said that the current minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila is P456. Minus inflation and salary deductions, the pay is reduced to P306.04, he added.

He added that out of P306 take home pay, P214 is spent on food.

Seno also urged the DOTC to add more trains and coaches to accommodate the huge number of commuters especially during rush hours and improve the facilities, security, and sanitation of the train stations. 

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has announced the government will impose a P25 increase in MRT and LRT minimum fares starting next month to cover the removal of over P1 billion in annual subsidies.