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MANILA — The Philippine National Railways will keep its current fares unchanged even if safety protocols against the novel coronavirus are expected to slash revenue, an official said Friday.

PNR's 3-car trains, which have a carrying capacity of 750, will only ferry 143 passengers at a time when operations resume on June 1, the first day of the looser general community quarantine in Metro Manila, said the railway's Acting Assistant General Manager Ces Lauta.

This is expected to result in an 80-percent loss from PNR's monthly revenue average of P25 million, she said.

"Dati lang po ang ating pamasahe. Iyan po ang suporta sa hakbang ng pamahalaan. Ito rin po ang tulong ng pamahalaan sa ating mga kababayan," Lauta told DZMM.

(Our fares will stay the same. That's our support to the government and our assistance to our compatriots.)

The railway, which runs from Tutuban, Manila to Los Baños, Laguna, will require passengers to pass through foot baths, handwashing stations and thermal scanners, she said.

The PNR has 6 new trains and 5 other trains that have been operating since the 1990s, said Lauta.

Aside from trains, bus augmentation units, taxis, ride-hailing cars, point-to-point buses, shuttle services and bicycles will be allowed to operate a limited capacity from June 1 to 21, the first phase of public transport resumption, authorities said.

Tricycles will be allowed subject to the approval of local government units while provincial buses are still barred from entering Metro Manila, the Department of Transportation said.

For the second phase that will run from June 22 to June 30, public utility buses, modern jeepneys and UV express vans will be allowed to operate, the agency said.

• Public transport to resume in 2 phases under general quarantine