Proposed '11+1' metro rail fare hike to be tackled Thursday

MANILA, Philippines - The management of the Metro Rail Transit Corp. and the Light Railways Transit Authority have set the public consultation for the proposed "11 plus 1" fare increase on Thursday.

LRTA spokesman Hernando Cabrera urged all the stakeholders to attend the event which be held at the LRT Line 2 depot in Santolan, Pasig City. The consultation will start at 2 p.m.

The proposal entails a passenger paying the base fare of P11 plus P1 for every kilometer of travel, Cabrera said.

He said that in the case of LRT Line 2, which runs from Santolan station in Pasig City to Recto station in Manila, the rail system has 11 stations with a total length of 13.8 kilometers.

To date, from Santolan to Manila station, a passenger shells out  P15.

If approved, an end-to-end passenger will be charged P 11 as base fare plus P13.80 for the total distance of 13.8 kilometers, which totals P 24.80 or roughly P25.

After the consultation, Cabrera said LRTA and MRT managements will submit a report to the Board, which is composed of executives of the Department of Transportation and Communications, Metro Manila Development Authority, Department of Finance, Department of Public Works and Highways, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the National Economic Development Authority, and representatives from the private sector.

The Board is expected to hand its decision to the DOTC which will then issue an order.

If the DOTC approves the fare hike, Cabrera said the transport agency will come out with a fare matrix.

The fare adjustment will take effect 15 days after the matrix's publication in national dailies.