The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) expressed its disgust with the administrators of the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit for demanding a P10 fare hike. “They should be ashamed of themselves, don’t they know that majority of our country men are neck deep in debt and are barely eking out a living? Besides, public transport, specifically public mass transport, is basically a social service, it should not be treated as a business,” said Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group.

“The legislated minimum wage of workers in Metro Manila is only P250 and the prices of oil, water, power and jeepney fare has already increased if an increase in the MRT and LRT fare is allowed, our brother workers and their families would not have enough money even for a decent meal in a day,” added Ramos.

Computations from independent think tanks say that an average Filipino family of 6 needs P535 a day to have a decent life. Obviously, the amount received by workers is not enough and will be further reduced if the MRT fare hike is approved, asserted the group.

“We have also learned that just recently the government has imported more 50,000 tons of rice mostly from Vietnam, which will inevitably compete with the produce of our local farmers. This rice importation and fare hike demand is intrinsically linked with each other because they came from the same policy, the policy of globalization,” explained Ramos.

“Globalization, which under it has deregulation, privatization and liberalization as its principal thrust, which the effects we are now experiencing, like the perpetual oil price hikes, power hikes, water hikes and now the MRT/LRT fare hikes. This policy must definitely be junked!” ended Ramos. # # #
 

KMP - 16 July 2004