MANILA, Philippines – Rail lines LRT-1 and LRT-2 are set to implement a fare hike starting August 2, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Monday, June 19.

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista approved the implementation of the approved fare adjustment following a cabinet meeting in Malacañang on June 6, according to Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette B. Aquino.

LRT fare adjustment ready to be implemented as Philippine economy recovers.

In that Cabinet meeting, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. made an announcement that “our headline inflation rate has gone down from the former 6.6% to 6.1% and our employment figures are also improving.”

On June 13, Sec. Bautista met with Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Hernando Cabrera and Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) President and Chief Executive Officer Juan Alfonso to inform them of the decision to implement the approved fare increase.

“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,” Marcos said in a video recorded message.

In a statement, Asec. Aquino said the fare adjustment is set to enhance the services, amenities, and technical capacities of the LRT-1 and LRT-2 in line with the government’s agenda to improve public transport infrastructure.

“We are aiming to make our rail services more accessible, convenient, and efficient for commuters,” Asec. Aquino said.

“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,” she added.

The DOTr’s Rail Regulatory Unit (RRU) had previously approved the petitions seeking to increase the train boarding fee by P2.29 with an additional 21 centavos for every kilometer travelled at the LRT-1 and LRT-2.

With this, the LRT-1 and LRT-2’s minimum boarding fee would be adjusted to P13.29 (originally P11) and P1.21 per kilometer for every kilometer travelled (originally P1 per kilometer).

The LRT-1 runs from Baclaran in Parañaque City to Bago Bantay, Quezon City (Roosevelt); and LRT-2 from Recto in Manila to Antipolo City in Rizal.

— The Summit Express