A commuter group Tuesday called on the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to enforce its collection efforts against the private proponents of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT 3) before implementing a fare hike on the mass transportation system along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

Elvira Medina of the National Council for Commuter Protection (NCCP) has urged DoTC Secretary Jose De Jesus to collect revenues generated by the MRT Development Corporation from the commercial components of the rail facility before setting the new fare rates for the MRT 3.

Medina said that the DoTC should pursue collecting P1 billion worth of development rights payment from MRTDC, saying the amount "should be able to cut a fifth of the P5-billion subsidy that the government has extended to the company since 2007.’’

“This company was given a special concession to make money for itself and for the government. MRT Dev Co. should pay their P1-billion obligation," Medina said.

She added that the DoTC should be “creative” enough to force MRT Devco to settle its debt.

But if the NCCP has already succumbed to the inevitability of the fare hike, the militant transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) remains resistant.