LRT-1 Fare Increase Set to Take Effect on April 2

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has given the green light for a fare increase on the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), set to be implemented starting April 2. The announcement was made by Enrico Benipayo, president of Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), following the DOTr’s approval notice dated February 14. The new fare structure, which is less than what LRMC had requested for 2024 and aligns with their 2022 application, reflects adjustments stipulated in the concession agreement. The DOTr’s Rail Regulatory Unit (RRU) has set the new boarding fare at PHP16.25, with an additional PHP1.47 per kilometer for distance. This adjustment will raise the minimum fare for a single journey ticket from PHP15 to PHP20. The fare for a trip from Dr. Santos Station to United Nations Station will increase from PHP30 to PHP35, and from Dr. Santos Station to Fernando Poe Jr. Station, it will go from PHP45 to PHP55. For those using stored value ‘Beep’ cards, the fares will be slightly less at PHP19, PHP34, and PHP52, respectively. Benipayo highlighted that this marks only the second fare adjustment for LRMC in the last decade, despite the recent opening of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension. He emphasized the necessity of fare adjustments to fund ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and expansions, citing examples from countries like Singapore and Japan, where regular fare adjustments help maintain efficient and safe public transport systems.