The planned fare hike at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT 3) may not be implemented by next month, according to a spokesperson of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC).

Dante Velasco, DoTC undersecretary for public information, Monday said the committee tasked to review the proposal for an MRT 3 fare hike cannot comply with the agency's one-month deadline to announce the new MRT 3 rates.

“One month won't suffice for the committee to study the variables so most likely, the scheduled fare hike may not be implemented by September.

It may be announced much later," he said.

Velasco added that the committee needs more time for an in-depth study of the fare hike, especially after the DoTC invited transportation experts from the University of the Philippines to contribute
their expertise in the review.

"By inviting transportation experts in the study, we are putting more science in the process of coming up with the new fare rates. This comprehensive study involves studies about lean and non-lean months, behavior of passengers and some simulation exercises,” he said.

Velasco said the committee will also run a second look on the MRT 3's non-rail income such advertising and commercial leasing and the opportunities it can give to shoulder a certain percentage of the government's subsidy to the facility.

Earlier, Velasco disclosed that the government has already spent P5 billion worth of subsidy to the MRT 3 since 2007.

“But definitely, the new fare rate will not reach as high as the reported P60 because for DoTC, this is unaffordable.

If non-rail incomes are able to lessen government subsidies, we can settle for fare rates that are at parity with those being collected at public utility buses,” he said.

Earlier, the DoTC said it would announce the new fare rates for MRT 3 by September despite mass opposition from transport and commuters groups nationwide.