Press Release
November 9, 2015

Excerpts from Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto
MRT hearing, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe

Recto : "When will the public feel that the MRT is getting better? When will they have a better MRT experience?"

Abaya : There will be improvement in service come first quarter.

Recto : Mararamdaman ba ito [MRT improvements] ng mga commuters?

Abaya: Yes.

Recto : Now we have that commitment from you."

Recto : "If now we're at 12M (population) in the greater manila area, how about by 2020? Urban migration plus the projected pop growth rate would almost double the number of people. Can you imagine how many more schools, how many more hospitals, how many more roads and railways must be built by then?"

Recto : "Please submit to Congress your master plan. Where are we now? We must have a goal by 2030. We also need to map out costs." (Note : On July 2013, Recto filed Resolution 60, DIRECTING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE MASS TRANSIT ROADMAP OF THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE END IN VIEW OF DETERMINING ITS VIABILITY AND ENSURING A SAFE, RELIABLE, EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.)

"What can we achieve in the next few months? During the next administration? DOTC needs institutional memory."

Recto asked Abaya about complaints from mass transit riders re long queues in buying loads for cards. He suggested tapping the convenience stores which will sell those loads, like how other countries do it. Abaya said it will be done in the future.

Re: MRT fare hike

"Ang nangyari, pataasan ng bid, may premium payment pa na kailangang bawiin ng mga private companies kaya consumer ang sumasalo."

"In terms of operation, break even kayo pero lugi sa equity buyout and interest."

"We promised better service. We should provide better service, THEN we raise fares, not the other way around."

"Why not allow our pension agencies to own part of it? Ang lalaki ng pondo ng SSS at GSIS. At least pag ginagamit nila, alam ng taong mapupunta yun sa retirement nila. Magiging railway system na made by Filipinos, financed by Filipinos, owned by Filipinos."

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