Passengers of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) may need to adjust their budgets as the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) has filed a petition for a fare hike, which, if approved, would increase their travel expenses.
LRMC confirmed on Wednesday that it has filed a fare hike adjustment petition as outlined in its concession agreement with the government. If implemented, the maximum fare for a single-journey ticket could rise from P45 to P60.
The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Rail Regulatory Unit is scheduled to hold a public hearing this morning. However, LRMC clarified that the upcoming hearing will address concerns regarding the fare application submitted in 2024, which was based on an earlier 2022 submission.
In 2023, the DOTr approved a fare adjustment for LRT1 and LRT2, raising the minimum boarding fee from P11 to P13.29 and increasing the per-kilometer rate from P1 to P1.21 but it was deferred following an order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Since its privatization in 2015, LRMC has filed fare adjustment petitions in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022, but all were deferred.
Under its concession agreement, LRMC is entitled to apply for fare adjustments of at least 10.25 percent every two years.
In a separate statement, militant group Bayan has strongly opposed the proposed fare hike, claiming that it would impose a significant average increase of P7.48 per passenger.
According to Bayan, mid-distance passengers traveling between five and sixteen kilometers would face an average increase of P6.02, while short-distance passengers traveling five kilometers or less would see an average increase of P8.65.
Long-distance passengers traveling more than sixteen kilometers could experience an average increase of P12.50.