MRT, LRT Fares to go up
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Are you watching this? TV Patrol just reported that the public hearing for the MRT and LRT fare hike will soon start BUT the provisional increase will happen on January 15. Fares are expected to go up to as much as 56%. That's an awful lot, if you ask me. Effective this Saturday, you will be paying for that one ride for the price of two.
I'm not sure how much this will affect call center employees. I myself use the MRT every single day and this will definitely affect my budget. Maybe less donuts and chocolates during my break? I just won't be able to take the bus everyday. That's going to be a pain in the arse.
Naturally, the end customers are fuming over this fare hike. In my opinion, it's really about time. Remember when the MRT was just launched some years ago? Fares were way too high so people didn't patronize it that much. Government took over and fares decreased.
It has been reported that at full cost, your single MRT ride should be at around P65. It is the government subsidy that keeps the fares at a very affordable rate - at the expense of its patrons. Have you been on a coach without air-conditioner? Or the dead ticket machines that have been standing idly at the side of each ticket counter? Or have you seen the occasional damaged ticket terminals as you enter/leave the station?
Government can only do so much. Raising the fares will help recover losses and improve services.
Agree or disagree?
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