Abaya: No increase in MRT fare until services have been improved

Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines – Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said on Tuesday that there would be no increase in Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) fares until its services have been improved.

“What assurance that the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Corporation) can give [to the public] is that there will be no price hike until we get doable things done to improve the service,” Abaya told reporters after attending a budget  hearing in the Senate.

“What is doable will be done. Those that are not really doable probably, we could do along the way,” he said.

His statement was contrary to earlier news reports quoting him as saying that the fare hike will be imposed next year.

But Abaya quipped there was no contradiction, adding the translation of some points discussed with the media in his first press conference “were probably lost along the way.’’

“My clear premise then during my first press conference was if you look at the budget, that (fare hike) was proposed, and that was approved in the House. We have to await the product of the Senate,” Abaya said.

“However, deciding on fare hikes does not merely conform to the budget. There are a lot of other factors that are considered and one of which is making sure that we have an improved service before even demanding P6 or P10 from our people,” he added.

Abaya said he could not say when the planned fare increase would be imposed.

“If you’re asking me actual implementation, then I could not get a date. Again, budget is a mere component of the decision-making process,” he said.