No MRT-3 fare increase despite change in leadership

Newly appointed Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager Michael Jose Capati on Tuesday maintained that there will be no fare increase anytime soon.

Capati made the assurance as commuters brace for higher fares at the Light Rail Transit Line (LRT1) starting Wednesday, April 2, following the approval of a revised fare matrix.

“Wala naman pong naka-linya [na taas pasahe]... Wala naman kaming plans or anything about rate increase for now,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(There are no plans for an increase or anything about a rate increase for now.)

Capati recently made a comeback as MRT-3 chief after his predecessor, Oscar Bongon, was relieved from his post in March over an escalator malfunction at Taft Avenue station.

Capati previously held the same position in 2022 after serving as MRT-3’s director for operations for five years. He took his oath before Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on March 31, days after being appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on March 26.

According to Capati, he wants to “regain the trust” of the passengers of MRT-3 following the series of issues that hounded the transport system in the recent weeks.

“One area na tinitignan natin diyan talaga is the maintenance kasi we don’t want a repeat of that very sorry incident sa Taft Avenue natin diba? Hindi dapat nangyayari ‘yan,” he said.

(One area that we are really looking at is the maintenance because we don't want a repeat of that very sorry incident in the Taft Avenue station. That shouldn't be happening.)

To recall, at least 10 passengers of MRT-3 were injured after the ascending escalator at Taft Avenue Station malfunctioned on March 8. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) explained that the primary chain of the escalator broke off.

Capati said that he is set to meet with MRT-3’s maintenance provider Sumitomo Corp. this week to discuss the issue and ways forward.

“Ire-review ko rin ‘yung current maintenance program. Kasi alam niyo naman ho mahigit dalawang taon din akong nawala diba, so titignan ko rin kung may kailangang ayusin, may kailangang i-adjust,” he said.

(I will also review the current maintenance program. I was gone for more than two years, so I'll check if there’s something that needs to be fixed or adjusted.)

“Kailangan ma-regain natin ang trust ng mga mananakay natin by way of sila, makita nila na talagang frequently, per schedule nakikita nila na mine-maintain niyo ang escalator, ang elevator, at kung anumang facilities na meron tayo,” he added.

(We need to regain the trust of our passengers. They have to see that we are frequently maintaining our escalators, elevators, and other facilities that we have.)

Capati also said a series of seminars will also be conducted for station and security personnel to ensure proper decorum and conduct when dealing with passengers. —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News