Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña today warned the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that there would be “massive protest actions” if they would not direct the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) to stop the impending five to ten peso LRT-1 fare increase.

The LRMC announced that starting on April 2, the shortest LRT-1 trip will now cost 20 pesos (formerly 15 pesos), while the longest trip will cost 55 pesos (formerly 45 pesos).

“Ang hiningi ng taumbayan, i-extend ang operating hours. Ang ibinigay, dagdag-pasahe at pasakit. Asahan na nila ang sunod-sunod na protesta kung ire-railroad talaga ng LRMC ang taas-pasahe,” the Akbayan Representative said.

“Karapatan ng mga komyuter na ma-consult tungkol dito. The commuters have continuously offered themselves for a dialogue, pero binabalewala lang ang kanilang mga daing,” the Akbayan Representative said.

Last week, Akbayan Partylist invited the newly appointed DOTr secretary to engage in a dialogue with commuters on key transportation issues.

“Kung ico-compute, 200 to 400 pesos ang madadagdag sa monthly expenses ng ating mga commuter. Hindi makatao at maka-commuter ang ganitong uri ng polisiya,” Cendaña concluded.