More lawmakers question LRT, MRT fare hike

MANILA, Philippines - Another group of lawmakers questioned before the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday the fare increase of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) lines.

Petitioners led by Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping the fare hike that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) started implementing on Jan. 4.

Echoing arguments raised in earlier petitions of four other groups, they alleged that the DOTC and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) violated the constitutional requirements of due process, social justice and public information in approving the fare hike through Department Order (DO) No. 2014-014 without proper public notice and hearing. 

The lawmakers alleged that the DO violated Executive Order 202, which assigns to the LTFRB the adjudicatory power to determine and approve fare hikes in public transport systems; and Commonwealth Act 146, which requires public notice and hearing on fare hikes that should be proposed by operators.

They also argued that the fare hike runs against the rights and welfare of workers, which should be protected under Section 18, Article II of the Constitution.

LTFRB included as respondent

Unlike the previous petitions, the latest petition impleaded the LTFRB for concurring with the Light Rail Transit Authority’s board resolution, which became the basis for the issuance of the DOTC order.

With these arguments, they asked the high tribunal to declare the order null and void because the DOTC committed grave abuse of discretion by issuing it.

Ejercito was joined by Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting, former Cavite congressman Crispin Remulla, and several party-list representatives, including Lito Atienza of Buhay, in filing the petition.

Four similar petitions were filed earlier by the Bayan Muna party-list group, United Filipino Consumers and Commuters Inc., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and former Iloilo congressman Augusto Syjuco.

The high court has acted on the consolidated petitions in their first full-court session on Jan. 13. It deferred ruling on the temporary restraining order plea and opted to first get comments from the DOTC and other respondents.

The DOTC implemented last Jan. 4 an increased base fare of P11 for both the LRT and MRT, starting Jan. 4, with an additional P1 charge for every kilometer.