LRT-1, LRT-2 fare hike looms after LTFRB approves petition

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has approved proposed fare increases in both the LRT-1 and the LRT-2.

According to Joseph Morong's exclusive report on "24 Oras", the LTFRB okayed the additional P2.29 boarding fare and 21 centavos for every kilometer on both LRT lines.

Fare between the Roosevelt and Balintawak stations on LRT-2 will be P15 for those using stored value cards or P20 for those using single journey tickets.

Fare between Recto to Legarda stations on LRT-1 will be P12 for stored value card users or P15 for single journey ticket users,

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista needs to approve the fare increases for them to be in effect.

“Sang-ayon naman po kami doon sa P2 na increase nila. We also checked on the needs of the riding public," LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said.

"Malaki 'yung demand but the cost is also rising. We have to come up with something that will at least break even with the services being rendered,” he added.

(We agree with the P2 increase. We also checked on the needs of the riding public. The demand is great but the cost is also rising. We have to come up with something that will at least break even with the services being rendered.)

“We are just one of the ten signatories. The final go-signal will come from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation,” Guadiz said.

GMA Integrated News reached out to Bautista and LRT Administrator Hernando Cabrera for their statements but they have yet to respond.

The last fare hike for LRT trains was imposed in 2015. Earlier, Bautista said it was only about time to increase fares in the train system. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News