MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said yesterday the scheduled Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) fare increases would be put off indefinitely after steadfast opposition by various sectors during a two-day public consultation.
Dante Velasco, DOTC undersecretary for public information and management information systems, said LRT Authority (LRTA) administrator Rafael Rodriguez had raised the possibility of postponing the implementation of the fare hike plan as early as last Saturday, the end of the second day of public consultation.
“This is proof… that the government is listening,” Velasco told The STAR in a phone interview.
He said the LRTA and the DOTC noted the concerns raised by student and youth groups last Friday as well as labor and civil society groups Saturday, explaining their opposition to the LRT and MRT fare hikes.
“We are going back to the drawing board. We’ll review the numbers all over again,” Velasco said.
He admitted that the review would primarily zero in on a “downward adjustment” of the planned fare hike and student discounts.
He said they also considered the disadvantageous contracts signed by previous administrations that make up a lot of the huge operational costs of the three rail lines, especially for the EDSA-bound MRT.
“We’ll look into the build-lease-transfer contract for the MRT, with the review likely to be an exhaustive one,” Velasco said. –Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star)
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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