Fare increases for Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) took effect on Wednesday, April 2, despite an appeal from progressive groups to stop the increase.
For single-journey tickets, the minimum fare has been bumped to P20 from P15, while the maximum fare increased from P45 to P55. For stored-value cards like Beep cards, the minimum fare increased to P16 from P15 while the maximum fare increased to P52 from the previous P43.
On Monday afternoon, March 31, representatives of progressive groups filed a memorandum on appeal before the Office of the President to stop the fare hike for LRT-1, citing the financial burden it may impose on commuters.
“Ngayong araw ay naghain tayo ng apila sa Malacañang Office of the President upang bawiin ang naunang kautusan ng DoTr [Department of Transportation] na nagbibigay ng fare hike sa LRT-1,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) President Renato M. Reyes said on X. “Pabigat ito sa mga commuters dahil pinapayagan ng privatization contract na mag-fare hike ang LRT-1 kada dalawang taon.”
Other appellants are Anakbayan Chairperson Mhing Gomez, Advocates for Inclusive Transport (PARA) member Ernanie Rafael, Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary General Ronaldo “Jerome” Adonis, Pagkakaisa ng Mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) President Modesto Floranda, and Kalipunan ng Damayang Maghihirap Secretary General Eufemiapet “Ming” Domingo. Adonis, Floranda, and Domingo are senatorial candidates in the upcoming midterm elections.
The appeal seeks to terminate a 2014 concession agreement between Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) and the Department of Transportation, which allows LRMC to increase the LRT-1 fare by 10.25 percent every two years.
Meanwhile, the Malacañang said that it cannot stop the fare hike. “Gustuhin man ng administrasyon na ito po hindi muna maituloy [ang fare hike] pero ‘yan kasi ang nakasaad sa kontrata,” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro in a press briefing on Monday morning.
In February 2025, LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Enrico Benipayo said the fare hike is necessary to cover higher operating costs.
LRT-1 connects Sucat, Parañaque City to Monumento, Caloocan City and goes east to Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue, Quezon City. In 2023, it saw a daily ridership of around 435,000. This is expected to increase with the addition of the new line extending to Parañaque City.
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