MRT-3 refiles petition for fare increase

Metro Manila, July 4 ----- Commuters who frequently use MRT-3 may soon need to shell out more as its operators filed a petition for a fare increase.

According to Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Railways and MRT-3 Officer-in-Charge Jorjette Aquino, the operators requested to increase the train line’s ₱11 boarding fee to ₱13.29, as well as its current distance fee currently at ₱1 for every kilometer traveled to ₱1.21. This development came after fare increases were approved for LRT-1 and LRT-2, which will begin on August 2. The last fare hike for MRT-3 was in 2015.

MRT-3 first filed a petition for a fare hike early this year, which was rejected due to technical issues. Aquino earlier said that the government currently subsidizes ₱85 per MRT-3 passenger, and that the end-to-end fare currently sits at ₱115. If the petition is approved, the government would still subsidize 70% of the line's per passenger cost, she noted.

Source: cnnphilippines.com