Abaya: No MRT fare hikes in next two months

MANILA, Philippines —The enactment of Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) fare hikes may take more time as Malacañang is still reviewing its feasibility in helping boost the government’s services to the riding public, Transportation Sec. Jose Emilio Abaya said Wednesday.

Abaya said members of the economic development council have been meeting regularly to assess the benefits of fare hikes.

“These issues are being discussed in the economic development cluster, the decision will not be [in the hands of] the DOTC alone. I am waiting for the green light. There is no advise yet to push through [with the fare hike],” Abaya said at the Senate after defending his agency’s P54.5-billion budget for 2015.

The average increase is pegged at P5, Abaya said.

Asked if the MRT fare increase is imminent by December, Abaya only gave assurances that no fare increases will be imposed within the next two months.

"Well, Christmas is a few months from now. Definitely, not within this month or within next month," he said. "It depends on how our fiscal space would be ... so a lot of things to consider before the green light but, definitely not within the month," he said.

Emergency bidding for rail rehab

During the same interview, Abaya revealed that the agency will push through with the bidding Thursday for the rehabilitation of 17 kilometers of the MRT's rail tracks.

The government needs to allocate around P119 million alone for the initial rail tracks upgrade, Abaya said.

"But the total upgrade, rehabilitation and overhaul needed for 2015  [is] roughly P2-billion for MRT-3 in year and a half," Abaya added.

Abaya explained that the bidding will be made on emergency basis, but noted the necessity to immediately rehabilitate the rails after being identified as the cause of derailment in the train system's operations.

Abaya said the emergency procurement will cover eight percent of the needed repair of the entire track, based on studies for six linear meters or over a 17-kilometer stretch.

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