LRT fare hike still pending approval

MANILA: The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) stated on Thursday that the approval of fare hikes for the Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1) and 2 (LRT-2) is not yet final.

LRTA Administrator Hernando Cabrera said in a statement that the fare hike “will go through the proper process” and that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which recently approved the fare increase, is just one of the nine members of the LRTA Board of Directors.

Cabrera explained that the LRTA Board of Directors must approve the fare hike, and it must also go through the necessary regulatory procedure, which includes public consultations and hearings.

A resolution from the LRTA to raise its boarding fare by P2.29 plus P0.21 per kilometer or distance fare was approved by the LTFRB on Wednesday.

If approved, the LRT-2's boarding fare will increase to P13.29 plus a distance charge of P1.21 per kilometer, rising from the current boarding and distance fares of P11 and P1 respectively since 2015.

The other board members of the LRTA, which operates the LRT-2, are the Department of Transportation, Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and two appointed directors, Cabrera and lawyer Dimapuno Datu.

Meanwhile, the LRT-1's fare adjustments are still being finalized and are pending approval of regulators, according to Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) Spokesperson Jacqueline Gorospe.

Gorospe said that LRMC is ready to implement any new fares that their regulators decide to approve.

Photo from Philippine News Agency

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