The Philippine National Railways said it will increase passenger fares starting July 1 to support daily operations and cut losses.
“It has been more or less 20 years that PNR last increased its minimum rate and fare rate per kilometer and has thus become financially uncompetitive compared to bus and LRT fares per kilometer,” PNR said.
The state-run company said it was incurring substantial cash flow deficits from daily train operations.
“To remedy the situation, management has proposed that the minimum fare of PNR of P10 be increased [by P5] to P15 per passenger, and the fare structure be correspondingly increased from P0.71 centavos per kilometer to P1.07 per kilometer in order to reduce the company’s operating deficit,” the state-run company said.
This means that the fare from Tutuban to Calamba in Laguna increase to P60 from P40.
“We are only implementing a fare increase that has been long delayed for more than 20 years,” PNR general manager Junn Magno said.
Magno said the fare increase was expected to raise additional revenue for the maintenance of its existing rolling stock, tracks and operating stations.
PNR has 25 stations at Tutuban, Blumetritt, Laon Laan, Espana, Sta. Mesa, Pandacan, Paco, San Andres, Vito Cruz, Buendia, Pasay Road, Edsa, Nichols, FTI, Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Muntinlupa, San Pedro, Pacita Main Gate, Golden City 1, Binan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao and Mamatid.
