Improve LRT and MRT service first, only then increase fares

Being a daily commuter of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT), I wish to express my opinion on the news story titled “LRT, MRT to raise fares by P5 this year” (Front Page, 7/25/20). If ever there will be a public hearing on the subject, I would like to be counted as one of the participants. Out of my deep sense of social responsibility, I will not stop calling the attention of the concerned officials until my demand for better service is heeded.

This is not my first time to air my views on MRT services. Until now, it seems my previous letters to the Inquirer editor—“MRT keen on profits, deaf to riders’ plaints” (11/2/12); “More fun in MRT rides unlikely for commuters” (10/11/12); “MRT management deaf to commuters’ plaints” (8/10/10); and “Politicians urged to take early morning MRT rides” (11/25/09)—simply fell on deaf ears, and so my demand remains relevant up to this very second.

Why do I despise every ride? Let me count the ways, and offer recommendations:

Every ride is a “survival of the fittest” feat. There is no day that I’m not challenged to the limit of patience and physical endurance despite being in the coach for women. The parrot-like announcements from the train driver— “No pushing,” “Give way to pregnant women, senior citizens, and children,” “Hold on to safety hand rails always,” etc.—have become meaningless. No amount of telling us “Manatiling nakahawak sa safety hand rails” will do, unless the number of hand rails is as many as the number of passengers standing. Could we not order a “customized” train (only in the Philippines) with more hand rails for passengers to cling to?

The recorded message “We are sorry for the delay. The next train will be arriving shortly” should be replaced with a more sincere line.

The escalator at the Quezon Avenue MRT station is not operational. Sadly, it is the more able-bodied passengers who get to the elevator ahead of those whose mobility is limited due to age or sickness. Poor elderly and other physically disabled individuals who cannot compete with the stronger ones have to use the fixed stairway.

There are too many security guards who routinely “dip” their sticks, in less than a second, into my bag. I wonder if the magic stick of every guard is indeed necessary in this high-tech world.

In other words, I feel exasperated with the chronic poor service and facilities of our LRT/MRT, which are supposed to be enjoyed by Filipinos, whether poor or rich, young or old. And it looks like the plan to increase the fare, purportedly to improve service, is just a deception or an alibi—a bait.

Could it not be done the other way around? Improve the service first, and only then increase the fare?

So may I take this opportunity to call on President Aquino, our lawmakers and officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications, especially its head, Secretary Joseph Abaya, to go on random, unannounced rides on a weekday, during peak hours which are, to my experience, from 7-9 in the morning and 6-8 in the evening, and learn from ordinary mortals how to survive every LRT/MRT ride, though stripped of dignity.

 —BELEN DOCENA-ASUELO, [email protected]