By Christian Dee
MAYNILA – Nitong Huwebes, Enero 12 naglabas ng pahayag ang Light Rail Transit Authority na dadaan sa wastong proseso ang pagtaas ng pamasahe sa LRT 1 at 2.
“The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) would like to clarify that the matter of the fare increase will go through proper process,” anang LRTA sa pahayag nito.
Anang naturang awtoridad, ang pag-apruba ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board sa usaping taas-pasahe ay nasa “nature” ng ahensya bilang isa sa mga miyembro ng LRTA Board of Directors.
“The approval of the LTFRB on the subject fare increase is in the nature of the said agency being a Member of the LRTA Board of Directors, and not in the nature of a regulatory body,” sabi ng LRTA.
“LTFRB is just one (1) of the nine (9) Members of the LRTA Board of Directors. The other LRTA Board Members are the DOTr, Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority, and two (2) Appointive Directors, namely, LRTA Administrator Hernando T. Cabrera, and Atty. Dimapuno Datu,” dagdag pa nito.
Ang pagtaas ng pamasahe sa nasabing tren ay dapat maaprubahan ng LRTA Board of Directors, paliwanag nito.
Bukod dito, dapat ding dumaan sa kinakailangang proseso ng regulasyon kung saan kabilang ang public consultation o pagdinig.
Sa kasalukuyan, sina LRTA Administrator Hernando Cabrera, LRTA Acting Corporate Board Secretary Partick Villanueva, LRTA Board Director Dimapuno Datu (from the private sector), at LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III pa lamang ang pumipirma sa iminumungkahing taas-pasahe.