MRT, LRT fare hikes to push through - DOTC

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the scheduled increase in fares at the EDSA-bound Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2 will be enforced starting March 1, an official said yesterday.

“As far as we’re concerned, it’s pushing through as scheduled,” DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus told The STAR in a phone interview.

De Jesus said that there may have been a misunderstanding among DOTC officers and LRT Authority officials on the fare hike issue after two-day public consultations conducted by the LRTA last week. The LRTA board approved a provisionary fare of P11 boarding fee with an additional P1 for every succeeding kilometer.

LRTA administrator Rafael Rodriguez said in a statement yesterday that they are “still pursuing the fare adjustment,” adding that the final fare rate and the date of its implementation will be taken up in the next meeting of the LRTA board of directors.