THE Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3)’s fare increase starting next year will have minimal effect on inflation while the additional revenue is expected to stabilize the government’s finances.
At a press briefing on Monday, Transportation Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino (MRT-3 Officer-in-charge) echoed the explanation of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that the proposed minimum fare of P16 and end-to-end fare of P34 will ease the government subsidy per passenger. The government subsidizes P41 per MRT-3 passenger.
“Additional revenue will provide financial support to the DOTr, which in turn, will actually ease yung pressure from the national government to increase its subsidy for MRT-3,” Asec. Aquino said.
“Yung P41 na subsidy sa gobyerno sa bawat mananakay, ito ay inaasahan naming mababawasan,” she added.
The fare increase along the country’s busiest thoroughfare is still lower than air condition buses plying along the EDSA busway per the LTFRB, said Asec. Aquino.
The MRT-3 is asking for adjustments of P2.29 boarding fare and an additional 21 centavo additional fare per kilometer.
According to Aquino, the last MRT-3 fare adjustment was back in January 2015.
She explained that due to the increase in ridership for 2023, the fare adjustment is justifiable with 170 million passengers already recorded from January to October 2023.
Once approved, revenues from the fare adjustment will be allocated for the rail line’s maintenance, reconfiguration of three- to four-car train sets, and its overall improvement.
At present, the rail line’s three-car train set can accommodate 1,182 passengers, while a four train car can service at least 1,576 passengers.
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