Fare hike at the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) will push through by next year, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Jaime Bautista, DOTr secretary, told reportersthe application for fare adjustment is under review and will likely be implemented by next year.
Last July, the management of the MRT-3 refiled a petition to increase the fares by P3 to P6 before the DOTr’s Rail Regulatory Unit.
The fare adjustments of P2.29 with an additional P0.21 for every kilometer is similar to the increase approved for the Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT-1) and LRT-2 implemented starting last August.
Like the LRT-1 and LRT-2, no fare adjustment has been approved for the MRT-3 for the last eight years, Cesar Chavez, DOTr undersecretary for railways, said earlier.
If approved, the current fares at MRT-3, from a minimum of P13 and a maximum of P28, will increase to P16 and P34 for end-to-end stations, respectively.
Bautista said there will be a fare hike at the MRT-3 before the bidding for the railway’s operation and maintenance contract in 2025.
DOTr has tapped the Asian Development Bank to help finalize the terms of reference for the bidding of the MRT-3.
The DOTr was keen to pursue a solicited bid for the management, operation and maintenance of the MRT-3, thus setting aside the unsolicited proposal submitted by conglomerates San Miguel Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
The DOTr and Metro Rail Transit Corp. signed a Build-Lease-Transfer agreement in August 1997 to construct the mass rail transport system along Edsa. It took effect in 1999 and is deemed valid for 25 years.
Last June, DOTr signed a P7.38-billion contract with Sumitomo Corp. and Oriental Consultants Global to extend the rehabilitation and maintenance of the MRT-3 for over two years.
