New fares at the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines 1 and 2 will be implemented starting tomorrow August 2, with rates higher by P2 to P5 for end-to-end station rides.
Following the approval of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) last June, Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), which operates LRT-1, and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) will implement the adjusted fares after complying with the due process that includes publication of the approved fare adjustments.
Based on the decision of the DOTr’s Rail Regulatory Unit, the LRT-1 and LRT-2 boarding fares will be P13.29 with a distance fare of P1.21 per kilometer, up from the current boarding fare of P11 and distance fare of P1 per km.
With this, LRT-1’s current minimum fare for stored value cards of P12 and a maximum of P30 will be adjusted to P14 and a maximum fare of P35.
The minimum fare for single journey tickets will remain at P15 while the P30 maximum fare will be adjusted to P35.
For LRT-2 from Recto to Antipolo stations, the current minimum fare of P12 and P28 maximum fare will increase to P14 and P33, respectively, for stored value “beep card” payments.
For single journey tickets, the minimum fare also remains at P15 while the maximum fare will go up to P35 from P30 for end-to-end station trips.
Meanwhile, LRTA will still give 20 percent discount to passengers who are senior citizens, persons with disabilities and students on the LRT-2.
The LRTA advised passengers to use a stored value or beep card to save money and avoid inconvenience.
The DOTr said the additional fare will be used for the renovation and improvement of LRT-2 facilities and services. The last fare adjustment for the line was approved in 2015.
“Despite the absence of fare adjustments in previous years, we have established major improvements in the 38-year-old railway line with the increase in trains deployed to service more commuters; improved headway or waiting time; station rehabilitation and expansion; and the construction of LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project,” said Rolando Paulino III, LRMC chief operating officer.
“We are determined to give people back their time through efficient transport and put more value to every single peso that our passengers spend for every LRT-1 ride,” added Paulino.
In a related development, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) yesterday resumed the train operations from Ligao Station in Albay to Naga Station in Camarines Sur.
The bell of Naga and Ligao stations was rung six times to mark the six-year suspension of service on the route with 67 km of tracks.
Almost 100 passengers boarded at nine stations and flag stops in Naga, Pili, Baao, Iriga, Bato, Matacon, Polangui, Oas and Ligao. Every day, the first PNR trip from Ligao to Naga leaves at 5:30 a.m. This will be followed by a second trip at 5:30 p.m. from Naga to Ligao.
It is estimated that the trip from Ligao to Naga and back will take two hours and 11 minutes, using a diesel hydraulic locomotive with five passenger coaches that can carry more than 1,300 passengers.
The cheapest fare is P15 for the first station and goes up to P105 to the last train station.
