Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said Thursday he is not in favor of hiking LRT fares "at this time" as the country grapples with rising inflation.
The operator of the LRT-1 has been asking for a P5 hike in fares to fund the extension of Manila's oldest light rail system to Parañaque and Cavite.
But Villar, who sits on the board of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) that approves fare hikes, said the government needed to weigh the operator's appeal against the "public interest."
"Maybe now is not the best time for these spikes in prices," Villar said in an interview with ANC.
He said the fare hike can be negotiated, moved to a later time, or implemented on a staggered basis to ease its impact on the public.
The Light Rail Manila Corporation, which operates the LRT-1, has said that the P5 fare hike is needed to convince banks to lend to the firm and fund the line's extension.
The operator of the LRT-1 has been asking for a P5 hike in fares to fund the extension of Manila's oldest light rail system to Parañaque and Cavite.
But Villar, who sits on the board of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) that approves fare hikes, said the government needed to weigh the operator's appeal against the "public interest."
"Maybe now is not the best time for these spikes in prices," Villar said in an interview with ANC.
He said the fare hike can be negotiated, moved to a later time, or implemented on a staggered basis to ease its impact on the public.
The Light Rail Manila Corporation, which operates the LRT-1, has said that the P5 fare hike is needed to convince banks to lend to the firm and fund the line's extension.
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