MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ralph G. Recto Monday said there is no need to increase fare at the Metro Rail and Light Rail Transit, especially with private sector interest in taking over government shares in railway systems. Recto said it would be in the best interest of the thousands of commuters if the government scraps its planned fare increase while pushing ahead with the privatization of the MRT system.
“The more prudent thing to do is to scrap the planned fare hike while the MRT privatization takes its course, possibly with the speed of a bullet train sans train wrecks,” he said.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) earlier announced that it was suspending indefinitely the planned fare hikes for the MRT and the Light Rail Transit (LRT)) systems amid growing opposition from various sectors.
But Recto said the offer of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan to buy the government’s stake in MRT-3 is one proof that a fare increase could be avoided through a successful privatization.
“Now that a corporate ‘white knight’ in the person of Pangilinan has come out first to rescue MRT-3, government should push ahead with the privatization and pick a new private operator soon,” said Recto, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means.
Rolly Carandang, Manila Bulletin
