(John Louie Abrina/MANILA BULLETIN)

Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate has a big problem with the government’s justification for the hefty fare hike on the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1.

In particular, Zarate questioned the supposed logic of passing the financial burden of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract for the LRT-1 extension to Cavite onto commuters. 

"Why should commuters bear the costs of the line extension? Wasn't it the private sector that committed investment in the first place?" asked the lawyer.

"As for financial necessity, why was this not part of the LRMC's fare hike petition? They simply cited a very onerous contractual obligation to unjustly raise fares," Zarate said, referring to the Light Rail Manila Corporation, the operator of the 40-year-old rail line in the metropolis.

The fare increase, which took effect Wednesday, April 2, raises maximum single journey fares from P45 to P55 and minimum fares from P15 to P20.

Bayan Muna says this directly impacts the daily expenses of workers who rely on the LRT for transportation. 

"With each peso added to the fare, ordinary workers are deprived of essential resources. This P5 to P10 hike translates to less food on the table for families already struggling to survive," Zarate stressed. 

"Every peso added to the fare is a meal taken away from the mouths of Filipino families, especially the children," he added.

The militant faction joined other commuters and  progressive groups in appealing for the immediate suspension of the fare hike. They also urged the Marcos administration to prioritize the welfare of Filipino commuters over contractual obligations to private entities.