THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Railways and Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) Officer in Charge Jorjette Aquino said the MRT-3 will re-file its petition for a fare increase this week.
Aquino said the re-filing will be done after they acquired necessary comments from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), among other agencies.
The fare hike proposal by the MRT-3 involves hiking the distance fare for 21 centavos, or P1.21 from the original P1, while the boarding fee hike involves an increase of P2.29, or P13.29 from the original P11.
When approved, the minimum fare will be at P16 from P13, and the maximum fare (end-to-end) from P28 to P34.
“Ang comment sa amin ng LTFRB is that the proposed adjustments are still lower than those of city buses, city bus aircons, and MPUJs (Modern Public Utility Jeepneys),” she said.
“As per NEDA, the fare adjustment’s impact on inflation is minimal while the additional revenue would ease the burden on the national government to increase the subsidies to MRT-3,” Aquino added.
She pointed out that the MRT-3 has been operating at a loss, with government subsidizing around P41 per passenger fare. The last time the MRT-3 adjusted its fares was in 2015.
“We believe that this fare adjustment is on the right side of the future of the rail system at dapat sensitibo rin ang gobyerno sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayan sa long-term effectiveness at sustainability ng ating rail system.. We want to make the MRT-3 system sustainable to build more and serve more,” she said.
Meanwhile, Aquino clarified that implementation of the proposed adjustment will not take effect immediately.
“Give or take three months pa po ang aabutin once mai-refile this week, kung maaaprubahan ng Rail Regulatory Unit. Ang expectation po namin ay mga late March or early April next year pa.”
(PHOTO CREDIT: DOTr-MRT-3 Facebook page)