Delayed MRT fare hike to push through 2013 – Roxas

Rappler.com

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The Transportation Secretary says the government want to cut subsidies for the train operations

MANILA, Philippines – The much delayed fare increase at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 will finally happen next year.

Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas told the House appropriations committee during a hearing on his department’s budget that “there will be changes” in MRT fares by 2013.

“There will be changes next year because it would really be unfair to the areas in the provinces if we continue to subsidize Metro Manila as we have for the last 10 years,” he said.

Roxas said the government has spent P75 billion so far to subsidize MRT operations.

He said the subsidy allows MRT fares to stay cheap. But he said the fares would be raised to be at par with bus rates.

“It doesn’t make sense that something faster, efficient and more reliable is cheaper than the latter.”

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) approved last year fare hikes for both the MRT-3 and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2.

The approved fares require a boarding fee of P11 for both train lines, and a P1 charge for every kilometer.

With the new fares, traveling the entire length of the MRT — from Taft to North Avenue — will cost P28. For the LRT Lines 1 and 2, the maximum fares will be P30 and P25, respectively.

The fare increases were supposed to take effect in March 2011 but were suspended indefinitely after various sectors complained the hikes would add to the burden of consumers, who were reeling from rising costs of food and fuel. – Rappler.com

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