MANILA – The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), operator and maintenance provider of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), is seeking a fare increase.
LRMC Communications head Jackie Gorospe said the petition is part of the LRT-1’s “periodic fare adjustments process.”
“We will share our response and more details during (and after) the public hearing [on Thursday],” Gorospe said in a message to reporters Wednesday.
The hearing will be held at the LRTA Administration Building in Pasay City at 9 a.m.
Fares for both the LRT-1 and the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) last increased in August 2023, with a minimum fare of PHP14 and a maximum fare of PHP35 for stored value cards and PHP15 to PHP35 for single journey tickets.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chair Renato Reyes opposed the proposed fare hike “in unequivocal terms.”
Reyes said the LRMC is petitioning for an average fare increase of PHP7.48 per passenger—PHP8.65 for short-distance passengers, PHP6.02 for mid-distance passengers, and PHP12.50 for long-distance passengers.
“The impact of the increase will be a significant burden to commuters,” he said. (PNA)