DOTr: Fare hikes in LRT1, LRT2 scheduled August 2

The upward adjustments in the fares of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) are set to be implemented in the coming months as the timing is already ripe given the country’s macroeconomic conditions, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Monday.

In a statement, the DOTr said the collection date for the new rates will be on August 2, 2023 or 30 days after the new rates are set to be published in general circulation on June 19, June 26, and July 3, 2023.

“We at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) believe that this fare adjustment will contribute to maintaining affordable mass transportation services for the two commuter-train lines,” Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said.

The DOTr said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista met with Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Hernando Cabrera and Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) president and chief executive officer Juan Alfonso on June 13 to inform them of the approval.

To recall, the DOTr’s Rail Regulatory Unit (RRU) earlier approved the minimum boarding fee for both Lines 1 and 2 of the LRT to P13.29 from P11, and the per kilometer rate to P1.21 from P1.00.

This was, however, deferred pending a thorough study of the economic impact on commuters.

“Lumalaki at sumisigla ang ating ekonomiya. Kaya’t mukhang tama ang ating ginagawa. Ipagpatuloy natin ang ginagawa natin para naman makita natin na bumalik tayo sa magandang sitwasyon ulit,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was quoted as saying.

(The economy is expanding and growing, so it looks like we are doing the correct thing. Let us continue what we are doing so that we see that we return to a positive situation anew.)

To recall, the last approved fare hikes for the LRT2 was implemented back in 2015. Petitions for fare adjustments in the LRT1 were filed in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022, but all of which were deferred. 

The LRT1 is a 20.7-kilometer elevated commuter railway that stretches from the Muñoz station in Quezon City to the Baclaran station in Pasay City, while the LRT2 is a complementary railway that stretches from Recto in Manila to Antipolo. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News