Youth and students held a protest in front of the LRT-1 Doroteo Jose Station in Sta. Cruz, Manila on the morning of January 15. They opposed the planned ₱15 maximum fare increase being pushed by Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the company operating the LRT service in Metro Manila.

In LRMC’s proposal, fares will increase by ₱8.65 for short trips, ₱6.02 for medium trips and ₱12.50 for long trips. As such, the maximum fare on the LRT will increase from ₱45 to ₱60.

Anakbayan was among the youth groups that participated in the protest. According to the group, this is not just a simple additional charge to citizens but the result of privatization scheme. “The government passes ito obligation to provide services including public transportation to corporations like LRMC,” it stated.

They emphasize that the capitalist LRMC owners will always prioritize increasing their profits without considering the welfare of commuters. “It’s a fantasy to think that this is not the real reason behind the LRT-1 fare hike,” according to Anakbayan.

LRMC is operated by Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation of Manny V. Pangilinan and AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp (a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation) of the Ayalas. The government’s concession agreement with the LRMC allows LRMC to increase fares every two years or else the government will pay the “fare deficit,” or what LRMC deems lacking in fares to maintain their profits.

The Department of Transportation held a public hearing on January 9 regarding LRMC’s petition for a fare increase. Bayan Muna Party-list’s Ferdinand Gaite and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidates Jerome Adonis, Mimi Doringo and Mody Floranda attended and expressed their opposition.

“We call on the DOTr to reject this anti-poor petition. The government should be seeking ways to ease the Filipino people’s burden, not worsen their hardship. Public transportation is a service, not a luxury,” Gaite said.

Amid compounding price hikes of basic goods and utility charges, Anakbayan said it is only reasonable for the youth and people to be enraged against these and the privatization of social services.

“Anakbayan calls on the youth to collectively oppose and protest against the privatization of services, and fight for national industrialization which is the true key to free, safe, and mass public transportation in the Philippines,” the group stated.