MRT reforms yes, fare hike not yet, says Palace
Manila, Philippines—Commuters shouldn’t worry about the proposed fare increase of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) for now, with the government determined to implement improvements amid worsening problems.
“Hihintayin po natin ang further recommendations, if any, from the DOTC regarding (the fare hike),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a briefing Tuesday.
The MRT train that crashed and got derailed at the end of the station on Taft Avenue in Pasay City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
“Ang tinutukoy ko lang po ay ‘yung prayoridad na binibigay ng Pangulo at ng Gabinete sa pagbibigay ng kongkretong solusyon para mapahusay ang serbisyo ng MRT dahil iyon po ang araw-araw na kinakaharap ng tens of thousands of Filipino commuters kaya po iyon ang prayoridad sa ngayon.”
(We will wait for recommendations, if any, from the Department of Transportation of Communications regarding the fare hike. What we are referring to is President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet’s decision to prioritize the improvement of the MRT because tens of thousands of Filipino workers ride the trains daily.)
Coloma said Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya met with Aquino on Monday to tackle the programs being implemented for the MRT such as upgrading the power system, replacing the rails, overhauling the engine and replacing the communications system.
“Wala pong tinalakay, walang pinag-usapan na kahit ano hinggil sa pagbabago ng singil sa MRT,” he said.
Article continues after this advertisement(They did not discuss the price increase of MRT tickets.)
Article continues after this advertisementWhat is important now is to improve the service to ensure the safety of the riding public, Abaya said.
Coloma did not directly answer if the fare increase, which the government has been pushing for in the past, has permanently taken a back seat.
Last August 14, an MRT coach overshot the station barriers in Taft, injuring around 40 passengers.
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