A lot of commuters are not happy with the fare hike announcement for the LRT, which will take effect on August 2. The LRTA justified the fare hike, saying that the amount of money they will be getting from the fare adjustment will be allocated to the maintenance, operating expenses, and the repair and upkeep of crucial rail systems and facilities.

With the MRT-3 set to re-file its petition for a fare hike, the DoTR made a statement, where Usec. Cesar Chavez reminded the public that it has been 8 years since both the LRT-1 and LRT-2 adjusted their fares and that a fare hike “would mean more trains running and passengers being served better.”

Chavez also justified the fare hike, stating that their services are “far better and more efficient now”.

Aside from the fact that petitions for a fare hike were denied for the past 8 years, Chavez also explained that the actual rates for end-to-end travel from Antipolo to Recto with the LRT-2 should cost Php 178 per passenger–yet the LRTA only charges Php 30 for the end-to-end trip.

“Kinakailangan igalang ng gobyerno ang pinapasok niyang kasunduan sa private sector, at dapat sensitive din ang gobyerno sa kapakanan ng mamamayan sa pangmatagalang epekto sa sustainability ng rail system,” Chavez adds.

The MRT-3 is expected to re-file its petition for a fare hike before the DOTr’s Rail Regulatory Unit (RRU), though the government agency did not reveal when they will be addressing the MRT-3’s fare hike petition.