The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 on Monday bared seeking a fare rate hike that it plans to file this week.
Transport Assistant Secretary and MRT-3 officer-in-charge Jorjette B. Aquino said MRT-3 has been operating at a loss, effectively making government subsidize around P41 per passenger.
She said the last time the MRT-3 adjusted its fare rate structure was in 2015.
“We believe this fare adjustment is on the right side of the future of the rail system and that government should be sensitive to rider welfare and the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of the rail system.. We want to make the MRT-3 system sustainable to build more and serve more,” Aquino said.
The MRT-3 is proposing to increase its distance fare by 21 centavos (from P1 to P1.21) and its boarding fee by P2.29 (from P11 to P13.29).
If approved, the minimum fare will increase by 23 percent from P13 to P16, and the maximum fare (end-to-end) by 21 percent from P28 to P34.
According to Aquino, the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board had said the proposed adjustments are still lower than those sought by the city buses and the modern public utility jeepneys.
“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 said.
She quickly stressed the proposed adjustment will not take effect immediately.
“Give or take three months (will likely lapse) once we refile this week at Rail Regulatory Unit. We expect implementation by late March or early April next year,” Aquino said.
The DOTr earlier approved a fare adjustment for LRT Line 1 and Line 2 consisting of an additional P2.29 boarding fare and P0.21 distance fare per kilometer, from the existing P11 boarding fare and P1 distance fare.
