Commuters will pay higher fares for Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) starting tomorrow, 2 April as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) remains firm in its decision to approve the hike.  

The DOTr said Tuesday the increase is essential for maintaining the financial viability of the private operator and ensuring ongoing improvements for commuters.  

“The DOTr believes that the fare adjustment is long overdue and is necessary to ensure the operational viability of the rail line and sustain its necessary upgrades for the benefit of the commuting public,” it said.  

The agency emphasized that the increase is necessary “to not only ensure smooth and timely maintenance of LRT-1 but also the extension of the line to Cavite under the present PPP contract.”  

Approved in January, the fare adjustment is only the second since LRT-1 was privatized, following the initial hike in 2023.  

The new fare structure, lower than the rates initially proposed by Light Rail Manila Corp., will raise the LRT-1 boarding fare to P16.25, with a distance fare of P1.47 per kilometer. 

Currently, the base fare stands at P13.29, with an additional P1.21 per kilometer, as approved by the DOTr in 2023.  

With the new fares, the maximum single journey fare will rise from P45 to P55, while the minimum fare will increase from P15 to P20. 

Additionally, the maximum fare for a stored value card will go up from P43 to P52, and the minimum fare will rise from P15 to P16.