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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider No increase in train fares –DOTr

No increase in train fares –DOTr

Published Jan 3, 2020 12:00 am
By Alexandria Dennise San Juan The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has clarified that there will be no increase in fares for Metro Manila's main train system following public clamor on the increase in the price of the stored value cards or BEEP cards. (DOTr / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) (DOTr / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) "The increase that was reflected is the charge in the issuance fee of the BEEP stored value card," the DOTr said. In a statement on Friday, the DOTr explained that the increase will be implemented on the BEEP card only, while there will be no increase in actual fares of the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 (LRT-1 and LRT-2), and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3). The department pointed out that the hike on card issuance fee is an "automatic provision" indicated in the concession agreement signed by then Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and AF Payments Inc. (AFPI)in March 31, 2014. The AFPI is the concessionaire jointly owned by the Ayala Group and Metro Pacific Investments and the company behind the unified automated fare collection system on the three train lines. Under Section 16.5.b of the 2014 agreement, it said that "any stored value card distributed by the Concessionaire until 31 December 2019 shall be charged an issuance fee of not more than twenty pesos." "And any stored value card distributed by the Concessionaire after 31 December 2019 shall be charged an issuance fee of not more than thirty pesos," the agreement stated. Meanwhile, the DOTr assured the public that it is now reviewing the concession agreement and all its provisions, in a bid to determine how best to protect the public interest. "A report will be provided to the public soonest on our evaluation and review," the DOTr added. The transportation department earned the ire of train commuters after it announced on Wednesday that BEEP card issuance fee for the three rail lines was raised to P30 from previous P20. The increase, which took effect January 1, 2020, was the first increase in card issuance fee ever since it was issued in 2015. "Starting January 1, 2020, the price of the stored value card (BEEP card) will be P30, plus initial load. Initial load must not be lower than the minimum fare of the line -- P12 for LRT 1 and 2, and P13 for MRT-3," the DOTr earlier said in an advisory.
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