The management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) has submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday, July 3, a petition to raise the boarding fare in the rail line to P13.29 and to P1.21 per kilometer.
This is from the current boarding fare of P11.00 and P1.00 per kilometer.
Once approved, the minimum fare will increase from the current P13.00 to P16.00, and from the current P28.00 to P34.00 for end-to-end.
This is the second petition filed for a fare hike this year. The last fare adjustment for MRT-3 was in 2015.
The DOTR said the petition will be reviewed by the Rail Regulatory Unit.
“The indication is that we need to balance kung ano ang budget na kaya ng gobyerno at kung ano ang responsibility ng taong bayan. For the last 8 years walang fare increase, 2016, 2018, 2020 at 2022,” DOTr Usec. Cesar Chavez said.
“Kaya sa tingin namin risonable pati ang MRT-3 magkaroon ng fare increase,” he added.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the fare adjustment is needed to support operations.
“Alam niyo naman kailangang i-support ang operations. Sabi mo nga cost is increasing, cost of labor is increasing. Kabibigay lang natin ng bagong salary increase and syempre that would mean also additional cost to the operations of MRT-3,” he said.
Chavez assured that efficient rail operations with the fare adjustment.
“Alam niyo naman pumasok tayo sa panibagong kasunduan with JICA. This is about 7 billion contract in the next 2 years from 2023 to 2025 para sa maintenance and projects sa loob ng MRT-3,” he said.
“As it is now, ang unang na-achieve natin bago na ang signaling system, bago na ang tracks. Yung bagon kumpleto na, 72. Ngayon, ayusin na natin yung common station,” he added.
The DOTr recently approved the fare hike for Light Rail Transit lines 1 and 2 and shall take effect on Aug. 2. – AG/With reports from Karen Villanda
