MANILA — The management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will refile its petition for a fare increase within the week.
An additional P2.29 boarding fare and P0.21 distance fare are being sought by the MRT-3.
If approved, the minimum fare for MRT-3 will increase to P16 from P13. The point-to-point travel cost from North Avenue to Taft Avenue station will go up to P34 from P28.
Transport Assistant Secretary Jorjette Aquino yesterday said that MRT-3’s earlier petition was denied due to “technicalities.”
Aquino, concurrent officer-in-charge of the MRT-3, noted that similar petitions filed by the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 were approved earlier this year.
The last time the MRT-3 adjusted its fares was in 2015.
Aquino reiterated that the MRT-3 needs more revenue to fund its maintenance.
While P1.9 billion has been collected from passengers from January to October this year – higher than last year’s P1.2 billion – the MRT-3 suffers a P6.2-billion deficit, she pointed out.
The additional revenue from the fare hike – estimated at P55 million every year – will “provide financial support for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which will ease pressure from the national government to increase subsidy for the MRT-3, according to Aquino.
She explained that the government subsidizes a large portion of the fare for each passenger, so the additional revenue would also lessen the subsidy that comes from the DOTr’s budget.
“A passenger using the MRT-3 point-to-point must supposedly pay P69 but pays only P28. So the government subsidizes the remaining P41,” she said.
According to Aquino, MRT-3 is planning to reconfigure its coaches from a three-car to a four-car train set to accommodate more commuters.
Aside from improved signaling and communication systems, a “pocket track” is also being eyed at Taft Avenue station.