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P72-MRT fare hike mulled

First posted 06:19pm (Mla time) Jan 13, 2006
By Maila Ager
INQ7.net
http://news.inq7.net/top/index.php?i...story_id=62833

THE GOVERNMENT is considering increasing the Metro Rail Transit 3 fare to 72 pesos from 15 pesos to sustain its operations, a statement in the House of Representatives said on Friday.

MRT Corp. General Manager Roberto Lastimoso told a hearing by the committee on railways and roll on-roll off system that the MRT could survive if it would increase its commercial fare to 72 pesos, according to the same statement.

The main problem however is that MRTC could not raise the fare because this will discourage commuters from riding the MRT, the statement quoted Lastimoso as saying.

Lastimoso admitted that the MRT 3 was experiencing "income shortfall" because of the US dollar-peso exchange rate, which at the time of the signing of the contract in 1997 was only 27 pesos to the dollar.

While the MRTC was earning in pesos, its obligations were being paid in dollars, he said.

"Our total monthly obligations amount to 3.3 million dollars while our income is only 130 million pesos.

The national government subsidizes the discrepancy," he explained.

Iloilo Representative Janette Garin, a member of the committee, confirmed that Lastimoso had proposed a fare increase but could not say if an official communication was made to formalize this request.

Garin said the proposed increase was untimely given the present country's economic condition

"If such an increase is approved, there should be safety measures to ensure that the proceeds would go to railways enhancement," she said in a telephone interview.

Aside from increasing the fare, Lastimoso and Paul Daza, lawyer for the MRTC, said the "most ideal solution" to the problem was the proposed MRT 3 buyout by the national government from the MRTC.

But Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez and Negros Oriental Representative Jacinto Paras opposed the idea.

Golez said if the proposed buyout materialized, each and every Filipino, including non-users of MRT 3, would have to bear the operational costs.

Paras said the proposal was not a good idea since the very reason for placing the MRT 3 under the Build-Lease -Transfer scheme was precisely because of the lack of funds on the part of the government.

He said he would rather support an increase in the MRT 3 fare to cover the costs of its operations.

The government needs at least 600 million dollars to be able to take over MRT3.