Palace: MRT fare hike depends on public consultations

MANILA, Philippines - The decision on how much the fare increase should be on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), one of the busiest social transport systems in the country, will depend on the result of ongoing public consultations by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Malacañang said yesterday.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda disclosed there was an ongoing public hearing on the proposed MRT fare hike after the national government announced that it could not forever subsidize the transport system’s low income performance.

Lacierda reiterated that the government move was an attempt to “even out” MRT’s resources as it is currently being subsidized by the government through taxpayers’ money.

He gave assurance, however, that any amount to be added on the existing MRT fare should be acceptable to the commuting public.

Lacierda stressed that the consensus of the riding public together with transport groups in a series of consultations would be carefully studied before they come up with a final decision.

The DOTC is already conducting a review on the planned fare increase while Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus is holding a separate audit review of MRT revenues from advertisements and its daily operations.

Meantime, former President Joseph Estrada said an increase in MRT fare would defeat the very purpose of the mass transport system, which aims to provide cheap and fast transportation for ordinary folk. – With Perseus Echeminada