Students, workers to bear brunt of the proposed LRT-1 fare hike
by Bryle Ong
Amid substandard train service and with last December’s worsened inflation at 2.9 percent, Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) passengers face the odds of a drastic 66.67 percent hike in minimum fare for a single journey ticket, if private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation’s (LRMC) proposal is granted by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
An attempt at justification
Last Jan. 9, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) rail regulatory unit held a public hearing on LRMC’s proposal to increase LRT-1 fares by, on average, P8.65 for short-distance travelers, P6.02 for mid-distance travelers, and P12.50 for long-distance travelers.
For commuters using single journey tickets, the minimum fare would climb from P15 to P25, while the maximum fare would also climb from P45 to P60. For Beep card holders, the minimum fare of P15 would be increased to P21, while the maximum fare of P43 would be increased to P58.
Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary-General Jerome Adonis, one of the hearing attendees, stressed that an increase of P20 in daily travel expenses would “hurt the pockets of low-income workers.” Workers and students commuting 20 to 24 days per month would hence need to allot an additional P400 to P500 monthly.
Meanwhile, former Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite criticized the proposal as “heartless” and “unconscionable,” especially at a time “when 63 percent of Filipino families are struggling to make ends meet.”
In a bid to defend the proposal, LRMC President and CEO Enrico Benipayo presented the claimed several improvements in the rail line, including its “100 percent” reliability, punctuality, and availability. The filed petition additionally commented that “passengers understand and accept fare increases in exchange for improvements in the system and service.”
Contrarily, Allyssa Te, a second-year public health student from the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM), revealed the persistence of inconsistency in terms of train scheduling and travel time. Te added that some LRT-1 trains have a foul odor and faulty air conditioning, leading to discomfort especially when trains are crowded.
Patricia Yumol, a UPM third-year political science student, went further stating that riding a jeepney could be faster due to long lines and jam-packed trains during rush hour. She added that a jeepney ride from Recto to Padre Faura is also cheaper at only P11, compared to LRT-1’s P16 fare from Doroteo Jose to United Nations Station. This price difference is expected to rise with the fare hike proposal.
Nonetheless, the government is bound by the Concession Agreement signed by LRMC, Light Rail Transit Authority, and the then-Department of Transportation and Communications during the Aquino III administration which enables a 10.25 percent increase in LRT-1 fares every two years.
As Bagong Alyansang Makabayan President Renato Reyes Jr., another hearing attendee, mentioned, “They [LRMC] even say that they do not need to justify the increase because it is a contractual obligation.”
Since LRMC’s takeover of LRT-1 in 2015, however, only one fare hike has been approved, with the operator’s 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 petitions all being deferred. Thus, as Benipayo explained, the fare hike would cover previous deferrals which, as of November 2024, have led to a P2.17 billion fare deficit. It was added that a P4.9 billion fare deficit is projected to accumulate in the next three years if LRT-1 fares remain the same until 2028.
Moreover, the operator warned that rejecting the proposal could impact Phases 2 and 3 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project. Phase 2 will cover the Las Piñas and Zapote Stations, while Phase 3 will cover the Niog Station in Cavite.
Regardless, Phase 2 is already encountering a significant delay due to Right of Way (ROW) acquisition issues. According to Transportation Undersecretary Jeremy Regino’s previous estimates, LRMC would only be able to start construction for the remaining phases in 2026.
A burden to the masses
On Jan. 15, several progressive youth organizations gathered at Doroteo Jose Station of LRT-1 to denounce the proposed fare hike. Kalikasan PNE, one of the participating organizations, slammed privatization as a source of increased burden for consumers of basic public services. The group emphasized that the government must instead provide and ensure “free, safe, and accessible” public transportation.
Similarly, Akbayan Partylist held a protest at the Fernando Poe Jr. Station of LRT-1 on Jan. 13. Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña contended that an “outrageous” fare hike amid subpar service is “ridiculous” and instead reasoned that the commuter experience must first be improved.
“Most people now might find it more expensive to ride these trains and may just resort to Manila’s heavy traffic for a lower commute cost,” UP Diliman first-year tourism student Carl Prieto pointed out.
Shanelle Ebora, a third-year Philippine arts student of UPM, added that higher transportation costs could equate to students needing to tighten expenses for other needs such as food and extracurricular activities. “Bukod pa rito, malinaw rin na ang desisyon na ito ay lumilitaw na mas inuuna pa ng pribadong sektor na ito ang revenue generation nang walang anumang malinaw na plano upang mapabuti ang kalidad ng serbisyo,” she added.
“I think it’s absurd and it would be inaccessible lalo na to those who are students na nabubuhay lang with their daily allowance. Ang laki masyado ng patong ng proposed fair scheme nila,” Yzabelle Calzada, a first-year communication arts student from the De La Salle University shared.
The proposed hike comes after the IBON Foundation’s 2024 report that minimum wages in the country are insufficient to cover costs of living in accordance with livable standards. In Metro Manila, the minimum wage of P645 already falls short of the family living wage for five of P1,190, leaving a large wage gap of P545.
A state of limbo
Since the hearing last Jan. 9, the DOTr has 30 days to decide on LRMC’s petition. If the petition is approved, Transportation Assistant Secretary Jorjette Aquino estimated that LRT-1 commuters could bear the fare hike as early as April 2025, depending on whether or not a motion for reconsideration is filed.
However, as of writing, the Marcos Jr. administration has yet to give a solid stance on the public transportation issue, leaving commuters with a sense of uncertainty.
