MANILA, Philippines - Various groups that asked the Supreme Court to stop the Metro Rail Transit-Light Rail Transit (MRT-LRT) fare increase will troop to the SC today.
The groups, led by Bayan, are confident that the High Court will issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the fare hike.
Members of Bayan will be joined at the SC by the Riles Network, the Train Riders Network, and various sectors opposed to the increase. The groups are represented by the National Union of People's Lawyers.
"Our petition is quite simple. The DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) secretary does not have the authority to order a fare hike. The increase was illegal. They were the proponent, approving body and implementor all at the same time.
"The fare hike is also arbitrary and unnecessary. Congress has already passed appropriations for train improvements. The fare hike will merely go to the pockets of the big business stakeholders in the train system," Reyes said.
He said that if the SC will not issue a TRO, commuters will continue to suffer the high fares and poor services of MRT and LRT.
"There is no system for refunds even when it is proven that the fare hike is arbitrary, unnecessary and excessive. The non-issuance of a TRO would greatly impact commuters for months to come," Reyes said.