LRT, MRT Fares Should Be Rationalized To Reduce Subsidies And Invest In Education

I wonder whether or not our government officials have taken the MRT.

One time, I did, but I am not a government official (un)fortunately. From Cubao, I was queuing to buy a ticket going to Ortigas station. As usual, there was a long queu. I prepared one 10-peso coin and one 5-peso coin. Nearing the teller, I noticed that the fare for Cubao-Ortigas was only Php10. It was too late to move to the "exact face" queu which moved faster than the queu I was in.

Picture from the internet

What? Php10 or (0.18 Euro cents or 0.23 USD cents) for a train ride to Ortigas of more than 5 kilometers! Where in the world you can get that, only in the Philippines. It was cheap, very cheap. And I felt a bit guilty for getting something more out of what I spent.

Somebody must be losing a lot of money because of this. Then, I read a news that the Philippine government has subsidized the riding public amounting to Php75 billion for 10 years in MRT alone. Similar amount (Php75 billion) has been allocated for LRT 1 for 10 years as well.

Let's breakdown the subsidies in MRT to understand and appreciate how much we are talking about here. Php75 billion subsidy for 10 years means that Php7.5 billion per year; Php625 million per month; Php20.8 million per day. This is how much our government pays for the 487,000 individuals who use the MRT everyday. Php20.8 million everyday from the government in MRT alone.

Why is our government paying so much?

From http://www.urbanrail.net 

It was because of the Build-Operate-Transfer contract by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) with the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) who built MRT3 and has assumed responsibility over the operation and maintenance of the MRT system. The DOTC is obliged to pay an agreed fee to reimburse the operating and maintenance costs for certain number of years.

Php20.8 million a day in MRT alone, on behalf of 487,000 individuals in Metro Manila.

Tsk.. tsk.. tsk.. Like you, I think this is too much. Our government can not afford to continue this when there are children without classrooms and basic health care in the provinces, and farmers who need farm-to-market roads in the rural areas, just to name a few of the pressing needs of millions of our kababayans.

The DOTC, through Sec. Roxas, announced that the subsidy would continue until the allocated fund is drained. What?!! Until when?!! Php20.8 million a day for 487,000 people in Metro Manila.

Let me tell you that not all of the 487,000 riders need subsidies. There are office workers, foreign students, and tourists who can afford to pay extra for the MRT ride.

Here are some proposals to save OUR money.

- Implement a graduated fare hike starting from this year. One group of riders such as Filipino students, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens will be exempted from this initial fare hike of Php5 (Set up a separate cashier/teller for this group of people for additional employment). Another group such as office workers, foreign students and tourists, and ordinary riders have to add P5 pesos from the original fare. Then, next year (2013) the first and second groups will add P5. Every year after that, there will be an additional Php5 to reduce the subsidies until the riding public will have to pay large part of the actual cost of the ride. The savings from these supposed subsidies is proposed to be invested in education such as building more classrooms in the countryside.

- Review the contract with MRTC because the subsidies are quite staggeringly expensive and outrageous for two reasons: the capacity of the train is over-extended and comfort is non-existent. Ask any riders in MRT and they would describe their ride as overcrowded. Here is a little math. If the agreed capacity is 100, for example, the train is having double that capacity. Thus, compromising the comfort of a modern train ride. The subsidy must be lowered because trains are running at full capacity without comfort of the riders. Renegotiate the contract to reduce the subsidies.

- Look for other revenue-generating opportunities in MRT such as ads, stalls, shops, mobile banking though ATMs and bank express, etc.

- Do the first three (3) proposals with LRT 1 and 2


Think of Php20.8 million everyday for 487,000 people in Metro Manila who take the MRT. Add that to several millions of similar subsidies for the LRT 1 and 2.

I know that there are millions of our kababayans who are in dire need for their basic education such as lack of classrooms, books, chairs, etc.. Let's spend OUR money to those who need it most.

RATIONALIZE the MRT, LRT FARES and REDUCE SUBSIDIES. INVEST IN EDUCATION, BUILD MORE CLASSROOMS instead. NOW!

Ninoy In Our Times

From: missindependentmind.blogspot.com

“And if a good man arrives, the country soon corrupts him.” – Jose Rizal, Noli me Tangere

            August 21, 1983. I was in Grade 2 when that orchestrated and fateful assassination took place. To an 8-year old boy (now one can calculate my age!), Ninoy was a news. I preferred playing aragawan beys and tumba-lata than to mind what was going on. Until much later when I became aware that he had died fighting for me, for my family, and for all of us including you whether you heard of him or not, in the name of democracy in the Philippines during the dictatorial years under Marcos.

            After his death, our country was never the same again. History was being written by the people as  main authors – the same people for whom he had given up his dear life. Philippine politics and public sentiments tipped the pendulum against the dictator. Nationalistic consciousness swept the whole country. For so long the people had kept that anger towards and open opposition against the dictator. So when the opportunity to demonstrate came, the people courageously stood up, openly denounced the dictator, and disowned  their government. Those who went out the streets and took the risk regarded Ninoy’s death a difficult act to follow, yet very timely and inspiring. Alive and vibrant in them was the William Wallace’s famous aphorism in Braveheart – “they may take our lives but they can never take our freedom.” True indeed, life is empty and meaningless without freedom of action and thought.

            That struggle to regain freedom culminated in the 1986 People Power revolution.

            On the 28th death anniversary of Ninoy, justice remains elusive. The public is aware that those who were sentenced to jail and still languishing in jail are merely pawns of a king. Some even died, with them the truth. Many times the case was reopened in the hope of pinning the mastermind but it turned out apparently to be an inutile effort. Any investigative body would end up facing the same people who undeniably had feared the far-reaching shadow of once and still powerful family and friends of the late dictator.

            The mystery of that fateful day woulld remain unresolved because probing eyes that would like to seek the truth are blindly cloaked with unforgiving history. Just like the JFK case in the US, it would remain as the darkest day in our country's history. After all it was in that darkest day that the people saw the brightness of the sun, felt its heat, and enjoyed the prize of freedom. Only that Ninoy did not witness the fruits of what he had done to the Filipino people. He sowed the seeds and let the people reap its harvest.

            He said that the “Filipinos are worth dying for,” but where are those Filipinos now? Please stand up. Otherwise we need to go out in search for Filipinos whom Ninoy had died for. And we will be lucky enough if we find any, though we are certain that Ninoy did not die in vain. Unless we act as one for the sake of our country, we treasure this freedom we enjoy now, we pursue the ideals of democracy and human rights,  we indeed are worth dying for.

            His death is an instrument to an end, and he hoped for what we have yet to achieve. If we take the fight of Ninoy in today’s context, I think the man will be smiling somewhere.

             Today, some powerful elites in politics and arts, activists for human rights, and leaders of faith continue to make decisions for us. They use surveys to back up their claims and positions. When will we ever learn to voice out our say? We lost Rizal, we lost Ninoy, for us to win. who else will we lose to so that we will win? This time, we can win without losing anyone. Truly we are worth dying for though, and much more worth living for.

EDSA Dos Story 5: An Afterthought Of A Revolution In Our Generation

“We shall not become free by retiring into the private sphere and saying ‘Count me out.’ Nor shall we become free by conforming to a society that holds its generals and millionaires in particularly high regard. We shall become free when we learn to work for peace actively, deliberately, militantly.” – Dorothy Scolle, Of War and Love

            Once again we did it. We ousted a sitting President out of office. And hardly I could enjoy the pervading celebration all over the country because 14 years ago, we had this same euphoric passion for and promise of change. Instead, I tremble in the musing of the days to come. (In the 17^th day of the new Arroyo administration, Ka Popoy Lagman, a staunch labor leader was murdered, and finally a Vice-President was named after almost brewing the country apart in the choice of VP. Earlier than that, a premature resignation and withholding of appointments in the Cabinet had rocked the young government. Rumors of impending coup continued to hover, gripping everybody in standstill.

            With the ouster of Erap begins the trek on the arduous road to renewal and reform. It has founded a stronger call that the more we should not cease from seeking our own great destiny as a nation. Whatever we gained from EDSA does not guarantee us of getting there. Still we have to master to take risks, catch on with our preferred changes, challenge the newly born yet spiteful opposition, brave the future with faith and confidence, and recoup the EDSA spirit till it becomes ingrained in us. After all, democracy and love for country bind us together.

            The deposed President has taught us the leadership style this country did not need nor want, what the people can do when faced with abstrusely adamant leader who expressly pledges to help the poor while implicitly helping his friends and families at the same time, and that sincere commitment to serve the people especially the poor is beyond eating with them in bare hands, shaking and waving hands, displaying that patented Erap smile before the camera, and bringing showbiz stars for cheap entertainment and gimmickry.

            However, the newly installed President is deep into political indebtedness. She was put to power physically by the frequent faces we saw on TV or heard over the radio, or so she thought. She witnessed first hand who were the people she had to give credit to, or at least be thankful for. It is that kind of indebtedness that is hard to repay. That is why Arroyo's administration is laden with appointments here and there, and disappointments here and there. This early inner circles of power are starting to shape in their own dangerous proportions, jockeying for vital positions in the government. What else is new when we have the same names who had been seated before yet here we go again reciprocating them for doing nothing of worth-replicating in the government? It looks like these people can not win in the election anymore that is why they are doing the backdoor entry to the government through dubious appointments.

            In her inauguration speech, the President said, “This (People Power) we owe to every Filipino.” Before that, she said, “We are the stones, and the Philippines is our edifice.” True enough, stones are of no equal distinction. There are good stones as bad stones, corroded ones and smooth ones, big and small, rolling and rooted. What we have right now are mostly rolling stones, and Sommerset Maugham wrote something like, “Rolling stones gather no moss.” If we really are for a new beginning where we are going to heal wounds of our afflicted society, and build a new edifice of the Philippines, we need to cast away despicable breed of traditional politics of patronage and personality, and brace the alternative breed of politics defined by ability, service, integrity, and faith in God.

            The backdrop of our Constitution indicates the course toward political and maturity. Every three years for most of the elected public officials and six years for the other half of the senators, the vice president and the president will be subject to the people’s will in an election. So any, elected public official whom we believe errs gravely against the people will be voted out of office into oblivion – aptly called nowadays, “kangkungan.” That is the spirit and intent of our Constitution but I think with so much consideration and evaluation that we are far from that end. Election, time and again, is an opportunity for the people to be active and involved to the most significant political process of democracy, be vigilant in their rights, be discerning in the choice among good, less, lesser, and pure evil, and we always missed that opportunity knowing however that there will be next time to right the wrong. Sadly, we never learn and that next time is no good waiting for. That is why election becomes a mere exercise like waking up every morning after a dreamless night sleep.

            People Power II has given us too many good things. To appreciate the value and merit of it, we need to toss away a lot of things in the past that stifled our energies to advance towards that dreamed development. It there is a thing that is being taught, it is how our system rots, and how to make it work for and against us. Indubitably, every Filipino loves our dear Philippines but that ends in the ouster of Marcos and Erap. When all things clear, we find ourselves fighting the same enemies again.

EDSA Dos Story 4: From Isarog to EDSA Shrine

          Leaning on the left side window of Naga-bound bus as it made its ascent on the Ortigas fly-over, I saw Edsa Shrine. It was a Monday evening of January 22nd of 2001.

            Five days ago, people swarmed this momentous place. Sparked by the infamous decision of the impeachment court, the throng swelled to multitudes of Filipinos disowning a President, the 11 senators, and those who believed in the impeachment process. The Shrine was the most metaphorical place for that collective anguish and dismay, being the birthplace and living witness to the peaceful People Power revolution not so long ago. As if Mother Mary, both hands open sideways, were calling Her flock to assembly and take Her refuge in times of grief to the death of the national search for truth and justice. Like a true Mother whose patience and understanding preceded any rationale of the situation finally said, “enough is enough, come to Me and We will do it again.”

            “Viva La Virgen! Viva!” Our Ina, the Lady of Peñafrancia, was with us all the way and all the time from Bicol to Edsa. With Ina, history would be good, history would be kind to us.

            A roaring cloud of enlightened heads massed at the intersection of Ortigas and Edsa blackening the whole area, waiting to burst like a storm sending signs of its impending strength and power. The clamor was clear, the portent was an ominous end of the sitting duck, the cry was resounding, and the direction certainly was Malacañang.

            Edsa was just the meeting point, the Gethsemane where people prayed to gather internal and external forces to sustain the fated culmination. The Shrine was the rock, all absorbing the people’ sentiments, disappointments, and the bid to the will of the Lord. And those who went to Edsa Shrine, physically or spiritually, were called to act to save the nation.

            The new President was being sworn in by the Chief Justice. Our new President is a daughter of a former President. Somewhere across the Pacific, another President was being sworn in. he was the son of a former President. All at the same day.

            Fourteen years ago, I was just 11 years old. We had no TV then but the people and radio kept us abreast of what was happening then at Edsa. They wanted to oust Marcos from office while all I wanted was to oust the can out from the circle. I was playing a kid's game- tumba-lata in Bikol or tumbang preso in Tagalog. When finally I hit it with my slipper, it tumbled down many times too far from the circle and my playmates who waited for me expectedly all went frenzy over that incident. They could finally run back to the base. (Hawaii, I suppose, is far enough) I could say, I made that happen. The joy of causing others to be free was felt at my young age.

            Two days ago (Jan. 20), I was part of the Bicol caravan that left Naga City at around 6 A.M. to join our fellow Filipinos at Edsa. We ventured into an eight-hour trip to be part of national struggle against corruption, nepotism, and cronyism. It was exactly the same time and day our Bicolano Senator Raul S. Roco had set for the march to Mendiola. If 14 years ago I was denied to hit that great point in our history to target, this time I would make sure that I would be there, or so I thought.

            Sad enough, I was almost there at Edsa when the furor was still hovering, when the thumb-down sign would still matter, when my scream would reverberate with the thousand voices of one call, probably also at the Jerichoan march to Mendiola when the people decided to besiege the standing block to the road to reformation and renewal, but I together with the contingent from Bicol arrived when Erap had already resigned and Gloria had already been sworn in for the Precidency. Nonetheless we caught up the thanksgiving mass being celebrated by Cardinal Sin.

            We were not late. No time was prescribed for us to be there. Who would have thought that Erap would give up so soon? He must have heard about our coming. He could have been scared, frantic, panicky and drunk. Understandably, who would not? Not unless Jose Velarde surfaced at Edsa.

            Many battles were won not necessarily due to the actual number of victors but to the cognizance of the fallen leader that legions of resolved people were coming to get him. That was our consolation to our journey from Isarog to Edsa Shrine.

            Seemingly unmindful of the historic event two days ago, the rush of shoppers and buses along Edsa affront the Galleria indicated that things were back to normal. I tilted back to my seat, my seatmate asked me in Bikol language – saen ka sa Bicol? (Where do I stay in Bicol). As my senses suddenly dawned on me, I became aware for the first time that I was going to Bicol, Camarines Sur, Milaor – home, as the bus made its descent on the Ortigas fly-over.

EDSA Dos Story 1: Erap Presidency in 2000

“That which depends on me, I can do; that which depends on the enemy cannot be certain.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

            In 2000, two years of Erap presidency hardly makes any impression on the plight of the poor (yet) – the same people who put him to power and in turn he must be indubitably biased for. His catapult to the highest office was seen as a messianic mission for the poor, by the poor.

                 His strategy to fulfill the role he has superciliously projected was contained in the Erap Para sa Mahirap Program. It would select the 100 poorest families in every city and province and direct the programs of the intervening government agencies like the DOH, DSWD, NHA, CDA and others to those families. The hope is to bring about a multiplier-effect thereby reducing the poverty incidence into a measurable figure. But the poor people are not numbers to be manipulated, and poverty is not a statistics. That is why I join those who appraised the program as dubious and superficial to its true objective of poverty alleviation. I agree with the many urban poor groups and NGOs that instead of pursuing a selective direction of program implementation, why not have a national framework where every poor family can be a subject, not mere object?

            The World Bank suggests that goals should not be imposed, rather to be embraced. The yawning gap between the rich and poor is swallowing any effort towards poverty eradication or alleviation of the government. That I wish is enough to cause hard-packed actions just like in the president’s previous movies. The people expect him to live up to his billing otherwise he might be acting without an audience.

            In the last SONA of the President, he asked Congress of the same laws he wanted prioritized way back in his first SONA. Doesn’t he have the majority of both houses? Where is the party loyalty? If it is expediently needed by the administration to fulfill its promises, by all means it has to go all out for it. I suspect the Congress truly sees the urgency of the matter.

            Now Mr. Estrada is asking for special powers to hasten the rehabilitation and development he envisions in Mindanao. Among the powers he sought are the CBA moratorium and the suspension of TROs for project implementation. Is he going to build a bridge without water underneath? Or is it creating a river to have a bridge built? In other words, are the special powers exceptionally called for at this point of time? Is the presidency lacking of powers? Has he already exhausted other means and measures that will result to the same end? Or, is he just indifferent to the powers available which are already mandated by law? Worse, is he conceding to his inadequacies and helplessness in solving the Mindanao conflict? These are the questions posed to the administration and to us citizens who are concerned with the possible scenarios if we let this come to pass.

            Then I have discovered the answer when I heard that various NGOs, the church, other civic-minded groups and individuals are reaching out to the victims of the war. They need not ask for any power, be it special or not. They simply do what has to be done. More than the special powers can give, I think what is needed is a heart, and a will to do things right.