Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) passengers will face higher fares starting April 2, following the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) approval of the railway system's fare increase petition.
In an advisory, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) announced that, based on the decision of the DOTr's Rail Regulatory Unit (RRU), the LRT-1 boarding fare will increase to Php16.25, with a distance fare of Php1.47 per kilometer.
Under the new fare scheme, single Journey Tickets (SJTs) will be priced between Php20 and Php55, with the fare from Dr. Santos Station to Fernando Poe Jr. Station rising to Php55 from Php45 for an end-to-end ride.
Moreover, the minimum fare for LRT-1 passengers using Stored Value Cards (SVCs) or 'Beep' cards will be Php16, with the maximum fare set at Php52, which is slightly lower than the fare for SJTs.
LRMC President Enrico Benipayo stated that the newly approved fare scheme is lower than the rates LRMC applied for in 2024 and is in line with the fare structure requested by LRMC in 2022, as outlined in the Concession Agreement.
"This is just the second time that LRMC is granted fare adjustment during the last ten (10) years despite its recent opening of the Cavite Extension," Benipayo mentioned.
"Public transport is a service that requires continuous investment in maintenance, upgrades, and expansion," he added.
He also highlighted that LRMC has consistently met 100% of its monthly performance indicators for system reliability, punctuality, and availability.
Additionally, the cycle time (total roundtrip duration) has improved significantly since LRMC took over in 2015, decreasing from 106 minutes to 91 minutes in 2024.
The LRT-1 Cavite Extension (Phase 1) began operations in November of last year, leading to an increase in its current ridership.
Below are the fare matrix for both Stored Value Cards and Single Journey Tickets:
