LRT-1 sees daily ridership to hit 450k

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February 20, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The daily ridership of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) is poised to reach the pre-pandemic level of 450,000 this year, driven by the line’s south expansion and state-mandated free rides.

Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) president and CEO Enrico Benipayo yesterday said LRT-1 is close to returning to its pre-pandemic ridership of 450,000.

Based on latest data, LRT-1 is handling a daily volume of 440,000, as the railway has gained additional passengers since expanding to the southern metro in 2024.

Benipayo said at this rate, LRT-1 is projected to close 2026 with a daily passenger volume of 450,000. Ridership is also improving because the government increased the discount for students, persons with disabilities and senior citizens to 50 percent.

Further, LRT-1 is complying with the government in its occasional program to offer free rides to select sectors. On Sundays, the LRT-1 gives out four tickets for the price of one to families in line with efforts to promote the use of rail transit.

As such, Benipayo said LRMC investors are taking note of the ridership improvement, showing openness to reconsider an earlier plan to pull out from the rail business.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), which owns a 35.8-percent stake in LRMC, is studying the possibility of divesting from rail operations to minimize losses.

In 2025, MPIC chairman, president and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said shareholders are asking him to sell the company’s stake in LRMC, citing losses from denied fare hikes and slow recovery in ridership.

In 2024, LRT-1 transported more than 115 million commuters, translating to a daily ridership of nearly 324,000. This was far from the LRT-1’s pre-pandemic peak of 450,000.

However, LRT-1 has since opened the first leg of its Cavite extension, adding five stops to its alignment. The project linked the railway to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange via the PITX Station, enabling seamless transfer between the two modalities.

As a whole, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will expand the railway to Bacoor, Cavite, and the project is estimated to raise daily ridership to 800,000.

In 2025, LRMC marked its 10th year as operator of the LRT-1, a role where it is tasked to pursue the P64.9-billion upgrade of one of the busiest modes of transport in Metro Manila.