THE Aquino administration on Thursday approved the reduction of the fare hike at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 to P25 from an earlier proposal of P30.
Besides the reduction of the fare hike fir the MRT3, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) deferred the implementation of higher fare for the MRT3 and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2.
The fare increase for LRTA’s Lines 1 and 2 system as well as that of MRT 3 was originally scheduled for implementation on March 1.
Hernando Cabrera, spokesman of the LRTA and MRT 3, told reporters that the reduction of the MRT 3 fare can be attributed to the DOTC’s implemented zonal system for rail system instead of per kilometer.
Given this, the MRT 3 fare from North Avenue to Santolan will be P15; North Avenue to Guadalupe, P20 and North Avenue to Taft, P25. While from Taft Avenue to Guadalupe, the fare will be P15; Taft to Santolan P20 and Taft to North, P25.
The existing fare from North Avenue to Taft is P15.
Earlier, the DOTC approved the provisional fare adjustment of P11 base fare plus P1 per succeeding kilometers for MRT 3, Lines 1 and 2.
Cabrera, on the other hand, said that the LRTA reaffirmed the fare adjustment for LRT 1 and 2.
This means that the new fare for LRT Line 1 or Baclaran in Pasay to Roosevelt in Quezon City will be P30 for single journey ticket from the current fare of P20.
For stored values, the fare for LRT Line 1 will be P29.
For Recto to Santolan or LRT Line 2, the new fare will be P25 for single journey ticket from the current fare of P15.
For stored values, the fare for LRT Line 2 is P24.
With the adjusted fare levels, LRTA’s average fare rate will be P19 for an average of 8km, while that of MRT3 will be P20 for an average of 8.25km.
Cabrera also said that the government deferred the fare hike for MRT3, LRT Lines 1 and 2 because of the pending consultation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
He said that they cannot give a definite time frame as to when the fare adjustment will finally be implemented since they will have to comply with the process mandated by the LRTA charter.
Under the Executive Order 603, Cabrera said that the LRTA has to consult the LTFRB prior to any adjustment in its fare and comply with the publication requirements.
The DOTC also mandated the MRT 3 to consult the LTFRB on its proposed fare adjustment.
“Following our consultation with LTFRB, implementation of the approved fare adjustment will be 30 days after compliance with the publication requirements,” Cabrera said.
To cushion the impact of the fare hike, the LRTA and DOTC approved the grant of 20-percent discounts to students. –Darwin G. Amojelar, Senior Reporter, Manila Times
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