Malacanang supports MRT-LRT fare hikes

MANILA, Dec.22 — There’s no doubt about it. The Palace supports the impending fare hikes on all services of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 and the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2.

This was confirmed Sunday when Malacanang on Sunday said that the fare hike on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 and the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 is reasonable.

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“Risonable lamang na ayusin natin ‘yung sistema ng pamasahe at ilapit ito sa pamasahe sa mga air-conditioned buses, para ang kasalukuyang ginugugol ng pamahalaan na subsidiya sa MRT at LRT ay mailaan naman po para sa mga mahahalagang social services,” said Palace secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr, in an interview over the radio.

Coloma was quoting President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2013, where the latter said there is a need to cut the government’s subsidy to the MRT Line 3 and LRT Lines 1 and 2.

“Kinakailangan po na tapusin na itong subsidiya ng lahat ng Pilipino para sa mababang singil sa LRT/MRT. Sapagkat, kung tutuusin naman po, kahit ‘yung ating mga kababayan na nakatira sa mga lalawigan sa Visayas o Mindanao na hindi man lamang tumutuntong sa mga tren ng LRT o MRT, kasama po silang pumapasan doon sa malaking subsidiya na tinutustos para diyan,” said Coloma.

During the President’s SONA in 2013, he elaborated that the government subsidies 40 pesos in every 15 pesos fare in the LRT and a subsidy of 60 pesos for every 15 pesos fare the public paid at the MRT.

“Kaya ang ating pananaw hinggil sa pagtataas ng pamasahe sa LRT at MRT… uulitin ko po: Napapanahon na para maisagawa na po ang tama, at ito ay ang pagpapalapit ng pamasahe doon sa sinisingil sa mga air-conditioned buses, at panahon na rin po para itigil ‘yung subsidiyang malaki sa bawat pasahero para naman po ang halagang ito ay mailaan sa mga mahahalagang paglilingkod na panlipunan na mapapakinabangan naman ng milyon-milyong mga Pilipino,” said Coloma.

The government will impose a uniform distance-based fare scheme for all 3 train lines, where the minimum fare will be 11 pesos for the initial kilometer, plus one peso for every succeeding kilometer.

The fare hike is expected to take effect on January 4, next year.

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