No MRT fare hike for now

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no increase in fares at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), an official said over the weekend.

“We have no plans to increase fares now. We have not discussed that,” MRT-3 general manager Michael Capati told dzBB.

The current MRT-3 fares range from P13 to P28.

Senior citizens, persons with disability and students are entitled to a 20-percent discount.

“These fares are currently subsidized by the rail management,” Capati said. “For example, you pay P28, that is not the actual fare. It is even doubled.”

The Department of Transportation stopped the free train ride program beginning on Friday due to fiscal considerations, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

The MRT-3 has spent over P500 million for the government’s “libreng sakay” program.

The DOTr will offer free train rides to students when in-person classes resume, according to Bautista.

He said the MRT-3, Light Rail Transit-2 and Philippine National Railways would offer free rides to students from Aug. 22 to Nov. 4.