LRT-1 Fare Rises to P20 Minimum, P55 Maximum Starting April
Take note, commuters.
(SPOT.ph) Your commute expenses will go up again soon with the approval of the new LRT-1 fare adjustment in the coming months.
Starting April 2, the boarding fare will increase from P13.29 to P16.25, with the distance fare rising from P1.21 to P1.47 per kilometer. This will raise the maximum fare for Single Journey Tickets from P45 to P65—which is still a few pesos lower than the Light Rail Manila Corporation's (LRMC) original proposal.
LRMC Spokesperson Jacqueline Gorospe said this is part of the “periodic fare process” where the operator is entitled to implement fare hikes by approximately 10.25% every two years under the 2015 Concession Agreement. The most recent fare hike was in August 2023, when boarding fares increased from P11 to P13.29, with an additional P1.21 per kilometer for distance from the previous P1.
Also read: Heads Up, Commuters: LRT-1 Extends Operating Hours on Weekdays
New LRT-1 fares in 2025
The LRT-1 runs from Fernando Poe Jr. in Quezon City to Dr. Santos in Parañaque City. Here's the new fare matrix for both Single Journey Tickets and Stored Value Card:
Single Journey Tickets
- Minimum fare: from P15 to 20
- Maximum fare: from P45 to P55
Stored Value Card
- Minimum fare: from P15 to P16
- Maximum fare: from P43 to P52
Why the hike in the first place? Without the adjustment, LRMC projects its current operational deficit at P1.46 billion could balloon to P5.7 billion in 2026.
Failing to implement the fare hike could also impact the progress of Phases 2 and 3 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, the LRMC said, as efforts are ongoing to secure right-of-way acquisitions for Las Piñas, Zapote, and Niog—the remaining three stations.
“While it is aware that an increase may be significant for some of its passengers, however, petitioner believes that passengers understand and accept fare increase in exchange for improvements in the system and service,” LRMC said in the petition.
Also read: From Redemptorist-Aseana to Dr. Santos: Everything You Need to Know About LRT-1 Cavite Extension