MANILA (UPDATED) -- LRT-1 fares are going up on April 2.  

In a statement, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said the minimum fare for Light Rail Transit 1 was increasing to P20 from P15. 

The LRMC had earlier asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to increase the fare from the current P13.29 boarding fee plus P1.21 per kilometer to P18.15 boarding fee plus P1.65 per kilometer. This means an additional fare of up to P15 for a one-way end-to-end journey.  

LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Enrico Benipayo said there is a need to increase fares due to higher operating costs now, particularly when it comes to electricity. He said LRMC has invested P45 billion since it became the private operator nine years ago. 

He also noted that the company has upgraded LRT-1 by replacing the entire rail, improving the stations, adding more trains, and installing CCTV cameras, escalators and elevators in some stations.  

READ: LRT-1 operator seeks P15 fare hike for end-to-end trip

In a statement, progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) condemned the fare hike, stressing that the government is giving in to the onerous provisions of the LRT-1 privatization contract. 

"Once again we are guaranteeing the profits of a private corporation because it’s what their contract says. Ang taas na nga ng presyo ng bilihin, papatawan pa tayo ng dagdag singil sa pasahe," the group lamented. 

"Bakit hindi repasuhin at ibasura ang kontrata? Every 2 years ang guaranteed na taas-singil sa pasahe. Makatwiran ba yun?" they asked.

Transport group Piston, meanwhile, called this an attack on workers and poor Filipinos who need to buy their needs at a high cost on their meager salaries.