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In need of a public transport fare policy

ON Feb. 17, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) will conduct a public hearing on fare adjustments for three rail lines serving Metro Manila — LRT 1 (Light Rail Transit), LRT 2 and MRT (Metro Rail Transit) 3. While a discussion of adjustments is long overdue, a crucial missing ingredient to guide decision-makers is an overall government policy on fares.

Without a fare policy, fare decisions often end up being ad hoc, politically expedient or capricious (such as when the EDSA Carousel offered free rides while the MRT 3 on the same alignment was charging regular fares). Delayed fare adjustments can also be harmful for both the transport industry and the commuter, especially when public transport operators go out of business and services disappear.