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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Please defer fare hike, House leader asks DOTr, LRTA

Please defer fare hike, House leader asks DOTr, LRTA

Published Jun 20, 2023 06:04 am
Light Rail Transit Line 2


Saying that Filipinos are still reeling from the effects of inflation, Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte asked railway authorities to defer the impending fare increase on the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) and LRT Line 2 (LRT-2). “I am making an 11th-hour appeal for the deferment of the planned fare adjustments by the three train lines in Metro Manila as ordinary commuters continue to reel from the persistent elevated inflation brought about primarily by high oil and food prices,” Villafuerte said in a statement Tuesday, June 20. “The DOTr, LRTA and MRTC should not spring this surprise upon commuters in the metropolis just two months after President Marcos himself ordered them to put back the planned fare adjustments,” said the majority leader of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA). The DOTr stands for the Department of Transportation. The LRTA stands for LRT Authority while and MRTC means Metro Rail Transit Corporation. The LRTA operates the two LRT lines, while MRTC operates the Metro Rail Transit-Line 3 (MRT-3), which is also reportedly planning a fare hike. “This is the last thing we expect our DOTr and LRTA officials to even think about, let alone carry out, at this time when no immediate relief for ordinary Filipinos seems in sight from the ever-increasing cost of living that continues to erode their purchasing power,” said Villafuerte, who is also president of the National Unity Party (NUP). On Monday, June 19, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino announced that fare adjustments for LRT-1 and LRT-2 beginning Aug. 2. In a statement, Aquino said that the minimum boarding fee for both rail lines will go up to P13.29 from the current P11, while the per-kilo rate for every additional kilometer (km) will rise to P1.21 from the current P1 per km. The LRTA subsequently issued its own statement announcing the approved fare adjustments for LRT-2. MRT-3 director for operations Oscar Bongon, in a separate press briefing, said this EDSA rail system’s management will also file a petition to increase fares in the next two weeks. He said this petition for fare hike will be similar to those of  LRT-1 and LRT 2. Villafuerte recalled that DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said in April that the President had ordered the agency to suspend the then-proposed fare adjustments at LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.

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Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) Department of Transportation (DOTr) fare increase Rep. LRay Villafuerte Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA)
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