📷Renato Jr. Reyes | FB
A coalition of progressive groups, spearheaded by Bayan President Renato Reyes Jr. along with Makabayan senatorial candidates Jerome Adonis from KMU, Mody Floranda from PISTON, and Mimi Doringo from Kadamay, will submit today, March 31, an appeal to the Office of the President. They are joined by Mhing Gomez of Anakbayan and Nanoy Rafael from the PARA commuter organization.
The Notice of Appeal and Memorandum on Appeal will be presented to the Office of the President to reverse the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) recent approval of a ₱5.00 fare increase for the LRT1 operator, LRMC. The President has the power to stop this fare hike.
This fare increase, set to take effect on April 2, will further strain commuters. Under the privatization agreement established in 2014 between the government and LRMC, the latter is entitled to request a 10.25% fare increase every two years. If such a request is denied, the government must provide compensation, a situation viewed as unfavorable for both the government and the commuting public.
The coalition is calling on the President to prevent the fare increase from being implemented on April 2, instruct the DoTr to clarify the fare hike’s rationale, and review and potentially annul the unfavorable concession agreement with LRMC. The decision now rests with President Marcos Jr. regarding the fare increase’s implementation on April 2. #
