Commuters to get 50% discount on MRT-3, LRT-2 rides starting March 23
Heads up, commuters!
The Department of Transportation announced that starting Monday, March 23, you can take LRT-2 and MRT-3 rides with a 50% discount.
"Ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat para maibsan ang paghihirap ng mga Pilipino sa gitna ng gulo sa Middle East. Prayoridad natin ang tuloy-tuloy na biyahe at mas murang pamasahe kaya magbibigay tayo ng 50% discount sa MRT-3 at LRT-2 para sa lahat," DOTr Secretary Banoy Lopez said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The 50% discount remains in effect for white Beep cards held by senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students.
For regular passengers, blue Beep cards can also be used to receive an automatic 50% off.
For those who don't have Beep cards, single-journey tickets are also available at half their cost.
The DOTr added that it's communicating with the LRT-1 management on the implementation of the same discounted fares on their train line.
According to Lopez, commuters can save more money by taking the train with discounted fares rather than driving their own cars amid fuel price hikes.
This follows the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to ease the daily commute of Filipinos.
Along with the postponement of fare hikes for public transportation on Wednesday, March 18, Marcos ordered mitigation programs to help the commuting public, including Libreng Sakay, toll discounts, and fuel subsidies for qualified drivers and operators.
The global fuel crisis springs from the Middle East conflict, which began on Feb. 28 when the US and Israel carried out joint attacks against Iran to neutralize Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Retaliatory attacks have upended the region, which supplies 98% of the Philippines' crude oil supply, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
