The public hearings on the increase in fares on the LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3 are now underway, something that the petitioners say is timely due to the “fare deficit”, the increase in the price of electricity, and the funding of more projects.
“Proposed fare hikes for the MRT-3 and LRT-1 and 2 will further burden millions of Filipinos that are already struggling with low wages amid soaring prices of basic goods and services,” IBON Foundation said in a statement, Friday.
“If approved, MRT-3 fares will increase by as much as 30.8% and the LRT lines 1 and 2 by as much as 16.7%.”
Because of this, the single journey ticket from North Ave. to Taft will increase to P34 from the current P28. If it is made on a roundtrip, it will cost P68 from P56 now.
All this is suggested after the inflation rate soared to 8.7% in January 2023, the fastest increase in the price of goods and services in more than 14 years in the Philippines.
“Passenger transport services inflation, which includes passenger transport by rapid transit and tram, has spiked from 3.4% in June 2022 to 13.9% in January 2023,” the progressive researchers said.
Looming MRT-3 fare hike to worsen inflation – group
The LRTA first said that the government currently subsidizes 51% of the cost for passengers (break-even fare), something they still want to lower to 46%.
Groups such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan are criticizing this because they say there is no order from the Congress, the Palace, the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Finance to reduce the subsidy by raising the fare.
In addition, it is said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has also signed. the fund is used as a subsidy for the government-run LRT-2, privately-operated LRT-1, and privately owned MRT-3.
Common workers say what they need now is not higher fares due to intensifying inflation, low wages, and 51% self-rated poverty in the country.
“With record-high inflation, workers’ wages have further eroded. The current P570 daily minimum wage in NCR is now only worth P482 in real value — or a loss of 88 pesos,” said Kilusang Mayo Uno in their position paper.
“The latest inflation of 8.7% continues to widen the gap between the minimum wage and the family living wage. P570 is less than half of the P1,161 NCR family living wage which is what a family of five should receive in order to live decently.”
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