New fare scheme for LRT

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has rationalized the fares of LRT Line 1 or the Baclaran-Monumento line, with the new rates for "long-distance passengers" to take effect on Monday next week.

The new scheme, which was approved by the LRTA Board chaired by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, was announced during a press conference at the Department of Transportation and Communications yesterday.

LRTA administrator Teddy Cruz said the rationalized fare structure is actually simple, with only two fare levels for the single journey (SJ) ticket and four fare levels for the stored value (SV) ticket.

The SJ is good for one ride and can only be used on the day of purchase while the SV is good for multiple rides and is valid within six months from the time of purchase. It also features a last-ride bonus which allows a passenger to use the ticket for any trip length even if the balance is only one peso.

For SJ tickets, the fare rates will be P12 and P15, while for SV tickets, the fare rates will be P12, P13, P14 and P15, depending on the zones to be traveled.

For passengers holding an SV ticket, they will be charged P12 for the first four interstation traveled, P13 from the 5th to 8th interstation traveled, P14 from the 9th to 12th interstation traveled, and P15 from the 13th to the 17th interstation traveled. The SV ticket will be priced at P60 and P100.

For passengers holding SJ ticket, they will be charged P12 for the first four interstations traveled and P15 for the succeeding interstations.

The new scheme is distance-related, particularly for the SV ticket, to ensure a more equitable structuring of fares so that passengers will now pay for actual distance traveled, Cruz explained.

He said at present, short-distance commuters subsidize long-distance riders because both pay a fixed fare. The present LRT fare is P12 regardless of the distance.

"We are encouraging LRT commuters to use the SV ticket to make some savings and be able to avail of a last-ride bonus as well as for convenience," Cruz said.– Rainier Allan Ronda