DOTC: LRT, MRT fare hike likely before Christmas

A fare increase will likely be implemented before Christmas in favor of Metro Manila's three mass railway systems, a report on News TV Live said Tuesday.

 

According to Migs Sagcal, spokesperson of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), the directive is only waiting to be signed by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, after which a notice will be published.

 

Once the fare hike is implemented, a ride on LRT-1, from Baclaran to Roosevelt, will cost P29, while a one-way trip on LRT-2, from Santolan to Recto, will be at P24, the report said.

 

A trip on MRT-3, between North Avenue and Taft Avenue, will cost P28.

 

Currently, a ride on the MRT ranges from P10 to P15, while a ride on LRT-1 and -2 costs from P12 to P15 and P20, respectively.

 

The fare increase was supposed to be implemented way back in 2011, the report quoted the DOTC as saying, adding that it was necessary to uplift the services of the train systems.

 

Once the increase is in place, the government will reduce its subsidy for the train systems to P10 billion from the P12 billion, the report said.

 

In 2013, the department announced the fair increase was possible by August 2014, noting they were operating the mass rail system at a loss as the government was subsidizing repairs, salaries and power supply.

 

In January, however, it said there was no urgent need to increase fares and deferred the plan to do so in August. – Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/VS, GMA News