Malacañang to consult DOTr on LRT fare hike bid

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace will ask Tugade if the Light Rail Management Corp. (LMRC) can still postpone the fare hike. (PNA photo)

MANILA — Malacanang on Wednesday said it will discuss first with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade the petition of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 operator to impose PHP5 to PHP7 fare increase.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace will ask Tugade if the Light Rail Management Corp. (LMRC) can still postpone the fare hike.

“Let’s see first if we can still do something but if there is no way to postpone the fare increase, then there will be really an increase,” Roque told Palace reporters in a Facebook live video interview.

According to the LRMC, the fare increase is needed to maintain the LRT’s good service to its passengers.

The last time LRT Line 1 imposed fare hike was in 2015.

At present, LRT fares range from PHP15 to PHP30 for Line 1’s 20 stations from Baclaran in Paranaque to Roosevelt in Quezon City.

If granted by the DOTr, the LRT’s new minimum fare would be PHP18 and the maximum fare is PHP37.

Currently, LRT Line 1 has an average number of passengers of more than 500,000 per day.