By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter
COMMUTERS using the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) are facing higher fares as its private operator, Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), is looking for one other round of fare hikes.
“We’re confirming that we submitted a petition as a part of the periodic fare adjustments process,” LRMC Spokesperson Jacqueline S. Gorospe said in a Viber message on Wednesday.
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is about to carry a public hearing on the fare increase petition of LRMC on Jan. 9.
LRMC filed a petition for a fare increase before the DoTr’s railway regulatory unit on May 30, 2024. In 2023, the Transportation department approved petitions to extend ticket prices on the LRT-1 and LRT-2.
“Our current fare is approved in 2023. This public hearing is for the 2024 fare application (we submitted last 12 months) which is predicated on a rise from 2022 fare application submission (different from what was approved in 2023),” Ms. Gorospe said.
The present base fare for the LRT-1 is P13.29 for boarding and P1.21 per kilometer for distance.
A replica of the petition obtained by BusinessWorld showed LRMC’s request would raise the whole fare for an end-to-end trip on the LRT-1 to P60 for a single-journey ticket. That is P15 greater than the present fare of P45 from FPJ Station (formerly Roosevelt) in Quezon City to Baclaran Station in Pasay, including the last station of the Cavite extension Phase 1.
For users of stored value cards, the utmost fare would go as much as P58 from the present P43 for end-to-end trips.
To justify the fare hike petition, LRMC said they’ve made substantial operational improvements and system upgrades “at a value of P24 billion” because it took over the LRT-1 in September 2015.
“While it’s aware that a rise could also be significant for a few of its passengers, nevertheless, petitioner believes that passengers understand and accept fare increase in exchange for improvements within the system and repair,” LRMC said.
Within the petition, LRMC said the typical fare increase can be P7.48 for LRT-1 passengers who travel a mean distance of seven.16 kilometers.
Mid-distance passengers that travel greater than five kilometers to 16 kilometers would pay a mean of P6.02 more, while short-distance passengers would see their fares increase by P8.65.
“A mean increase of only P12.50 for long-distance passengers, that are passengers that travel greater than 16 kilometers on the present system. Only one.88% are long-distance passengers,” LRMC said.
Renato M. Reyes, Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said they’re opposing the proposed LRT fare hike, the second under the Marcos administration.
“We call on commuters to make their voices heard and to register their strong opposition to the fare hike. The Marcos regime is ultimately chargeable for the looming fare increase,” he said.
Transportation Assistant Secretary for railways Jorjette B. Aquino told BusinessWorld the DoTr will take into consideration the comments from the general public before deciding on LRMC’s petition.
Ms. Aquino said the DoTr is anticipated to give you a choice a month after the general public hearing.
“As per the Rail Regulatory Unit Rules and Regulations, a maximum of 30 days from the day of public hearing. It is an element of our job and commitment to do proper review and evaluation of their petition,” Ms. Aquino said.
Terry L. Ridon, a public investment analyst and convenor of think tank InfraWatch PH, said the DoTr must properly evaluate the fare adjustment petition filed by the LRMC.
“The DoTr must determine whether LRMC had already delivered on its prior commitments to construct recent infrastructure and adequately maintain the rail system,” Mr. Ridon said.
LRMC is the three way partnership of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. Metro Pacific Light Rail is a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is considered one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT Inc. and Philex Mining Corp.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Useful Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.
