Light Rail Manila Corp (LRMC), the operator of Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT1), wants to raise their fares by more than two pesos.
In an exclusive report by Joseph Morong on GMA News “24 Oras” this Wednesday, it was said that the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has signed the LRMC’s petition for a fare increase.
The LTFRB is one of those that must agree to the petition before the final decision of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista.
Based on the document obtained by GMA Integrated News, the LRMC is requesting an increase of P2.29 in boarding fare and P0.21 per kilometer traveled.
So the fare for the shortest trip from Roosevelt to Balintawak will be P16 for the stored value and P20 for the single journey ticket.
This is up from P13 for stored value and P15 for single journey tickets.
This is also the allowed surcharge on the LRT Line 2 fare.
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Over P2 fare increase in LRT-1, LRT-2 looms after approval by LTFRB
According to the report, the nearest fare from Recto to Legarda station, from the previous P12 for stored value and P15 for a single journey, will be the same P15.
“Sang-ayon naman po kami sa P2 na increase nila. We also check on the needs of the riding public, malaki ‘yung demand but the cost is also rising. So, we have to come up with something that will at least break even the cost with services being rendered,” said LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III.
After the LTFRB, the resolution is said to go through the DOTR where Bautista must approve and sign it before the fare surcharge is finally implemented.
“We are just one of the signatories and the final go signal will come from the secretary of the department of transportation,” said Guadiz.
It was 2015 when the LRT fare increase was last allowed. But Bautista had previously said that it was time to raise the LRT fare.
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