Transport Assistant Secretary for Railways and MRT-3 Officer-in-Charge Jorjette B. Aquino said the MRT-3 will refile its petition for fare adjustment this week, in a press briefing held at MRT-3 depot, December 4.

This, after MRT-3's acquisition of necessary inputs from the LTFRB and NEDA, among other agencies.

"Ang comment sa amin ng LTFRB is that the proposed adjustments are still lower than those of city buses, city bus aircons, and MPUJs," she said.

"As per NEDA, the fare adjustment's impact on inflation is minimal while the additional revenue would ease the burden on the national government to increase the subsidies to MRT-3," Asec. Aquino added.

The MRT-3 is proposing to increase its distance fare by only 21 cents (from P1 to P1.21), its boarding fee by P2.29 (from P11 to P13.29). If approved, the minimum fare will increase from P13 to P16, and the maximum fare (end-to-end) from P28 to P34.

Asec. Aquino said that the MRT-3 has been operating at a loss, with government subsidizing around P41 per passenger fare. The last time the MRT-3 adjusted its fares was in 2015.

"We believe that this fare adjustment is on the right side of the future of the rail system at dapat sensitibo rin ang gobyerno sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayan sa long-term effectiveness at sustainability ng ating rail system.. We want to make the MRT-3 system sustainable to build more and serve more," she said.

Meanwhile, Asec. Aquino clarified that implementation of the proposed adjustment will not take effect immediately. "Give or take three months pa po ang aabutin once mai-refile this week, kung maaaprubahan ng Rail Regulatory Unit. Ang expectation po namin ay mga late March or early April next year pa," said Asec. Aquino.

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