P4.5B for MRT3 diverted to DAP
No fare increase if money for trains was properly used -- Nancy

Senator Nancy Binay today said that the money allocated supposedly for the procurement of additional trains for the MRT3 could have improved the railway system and could have not led to any fare increase.

Based on records of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the funds intended for MRT3 instead went to the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

"Kung napunta talaga sa tamang pupuntahan ang P4.5 billion na na-allocate para sa Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) na pambili ng dagdag na mga tren ay malamang walang fare increase ang MRT at LRT," Binay said.

"Instead, the money went to DAP, which the Supreme Court had declared parts of it unconstitutional," she added.

The DOTC had announced during the holiday season that it will increase the base fare from P10 to P11, with P1 for every additional kilometer travelled.

The lady senator expressed dismay at the move of the DOTC as it betrays a lack of concern for the welfare and safety of ordinary citizens who ride the MRT every day.

"In 2012, the DOTC surrendered P4.5 billion allocated for purchasing additional cars for the MRT3 to the DAP. Sa ngayon, dilat at tirik ang mga mata ng commuters ng MRT dahil biglang naging bula ang pera na sana ay nagamit para ayusin ang serbisyo ng MRT," Binay explained.

In documents detailing DAP funds previously submitted by the DBM to Sen. Binay, it showed a P4.5 billion allocation for the MRT for the purchase of additional cars surrendered by the DOTC to the DBM for use as DAP.

Binay also questioned the timing of the fare increase, as the national government had already allocated funds in the 2015 national budget for the improvement of the railway system.

"Binigla tayong lahat habang abala tayo sa paghahanda at selebrasyon ng Kapaskuhan at Bagong Taon," Binay said.

"The recently approved 2015 General Appropriations Act already has a budget of P10.6 billion to improve the country's railway systems, including the rehabilitation of LRT Lines 1 and 2 and subsidies to MRT," she said.

The Senator added that the newly approved Supplemental Budget allocates almost P2 billion for the rehabilitation and capacity extension of the MRT and LRT, including the total replacement of the existing signalling system and the rehabilitation of escalators and elevators.