Give on Christmas, don't take! Yes to understanding and assistance for commuting public; No to price hostage/ultimatum
Calls for immediate suspension of rates increase and study for alternatives to ease burden on commuters

As the public has remained patient and understanding with the government's failure to improve the mass transportation system and the slow trickle-down effect of a booming economy, it is the government's turn to be understanding and patient, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter "Companero" S. Cayetano said today.

Cayetano said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) should find other alternatives to the looming fare hike in commuter train lines before it passes on unnecessary burden to commuters.

He said it was wrong timing for the government to announce the fare increase in Light and Metro Rail Transit systems days before Christmas. The DOTC said the fare hike of 50 to 80 percent would take effect on January 4.

"The government cannot choose the easy route by placing more burden on the commuters through a fare hike. It must be the one to think of ways to augment the income from the MRT and LRT for it to be able to meet its obligations," he said.

For instance, Cayetano said, the government can consider increasing the non-rail revenue income of MRT and LRT train lines. Non-rail income covers advertisements and commercial spaces in train stations, among others.

The Majority Leader also said that improved services in the train lines should not be used as an excuse to increase the fares because Congress has already approved the necessary budget to cover such expenses.

Under the 2015 General Approprations Act (GAA), Congress approved a budget of 1.92 billion for the operation and maintenance of the MRT, P4.66 billion to cover the government's subsidy to the MRT, and P3.82 billion for the repair and rehabilitation of LRT Lines 1 and 2.

"The government does not need to increase fares in order to support capacity expansion and improvement projects. We already have the budget for that. So why do we still need to increase fares?" Cayetano said.

"But if an increase is absolutely necessary, it must implement measures to lessen the impact on vulnerable groups," he added.

Cayetano proposed offering discounts to students, which comprise around 31.5 percent of the train ridership, and giving vouchers for free rides to minimum wage earners.