A full end-to-end MRT-3 ride now costs less than a bottle of soda: since March 23, 2026, every commuter on MRT-3 and LRT-2 pays just half the old fare, and the discount has no end date in sight. If your mental price list still says P13 to P28, you are overpaying in your head even when the gate charges you less. Here are the real numbers, the schedules, and the payment moves that stack on top.
What changed on March 23, 2026
The Department of Transportation slashed fares by 50% on both government-run lines following President Marcos’ directive to ease commuting costs amid the oil price surge. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez framed it as making everyday commutes more convenient, and unlike earlier promos this one covers all riders, not just students or seniors. Per Inquirer’s report, the discount applies starting March 23 “until further notice,” which has since stretched into an indefinite run.
| Line | Route | Old fare range | New fare range | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRT-3 | North Avenue, Quezon City to Taft Avenue, Pasay | P13 to P28 | P6.50 to P14 | 50% off, indefinite |
| LRT-2 | Recto, Manila to Antipolo, Rizal | P15 to P35 | P7.50 to P17.50 | 50% off, indefinite |
| LRT-1 | Fernando Poe Jr., Quezon City to Baclaran, Paranaque | Standard rates still apply | Not included at launch | |
LRT-1 is the odd line out: operator Light Rail Manila Corporation kept standard fares when the cut began, telling reporters that its private operations were not covered by the order. Lawmakers have since pushed to extend the same relief there, so watch that space.
How the half-price mechanics actually work
There is no coupon, app switch, or registration involved for most riders. The discount is baked into three payment paths:
- Blue beep cards deduct the discounted fare automatically at the gates
- Single-journey tickets bought at the station are sold at the halved price too
- White beep cards for seniors, PWDs and students keep their own separate bigger discount, which stays applicable alongside
One catch worth knowing: the 50% applies to the base fare structure, so your actual deduction still depends on distance traveled between taps. Short hops cost proportionally less than the maximum end-to-end figures above.
MRT-3 operating hours in 2026
Straight from the official MRT-3 timetable, trains run later than most commuters assume:
| Day | North Avenue first / last | Taft Avenue first / last |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 4:36 AM / 9:30 PM | 5:18 AM / 10:11 PM |
| Saturdays | 4:37 AM / 9:30 PM | 5:18 AM / 10:08 PM |
| Sundays and holidays | 4:38 AM / 9:30 PM | 5:19 AM / 10:09 PM |
LRT-2 keeps a similar rhythm: the Light Rail Transit Authority has all stations opening daily at 4:50 AM, with per-station last-train times varying by direction and posted at each station.
Best ways to pay, and stack the savings
Beep cards remain the default, but GCash has become the power-user rail for these lines. Our walkthrough of GCash train payments in Metro Manila covers the QR flow step by step, and GCash has run up-to-30% cashback promos on Commute QR rides that stack with the fare cut, detailed in our LRT-2 and MRT-3 GCash cashback explainer. Between the standing half price and rotating e-wallet promos, some rides effectively cost a third of the pre-March rate.
Free rides still pop up
The fare cut is not even the floor: August 2026 brought free MRT-3 rides every Wednesday for National ID holders, part of the government’s push to get more Filipinos using the national ID for services. We broke down who qualifies and how to redeem it in our National ID free rides guide. For surface travel along the same corridor, our EDSA Busway commuter guide maps all 24 stops and how bus fares compare against the trains.
Quick answers
Is the 50% MRT-3 and LRT-2 discount permanent? It is officially “until further notice,” running since March 23, 2026 with no announced end date, but it can technically be lifted anytime.
Does LRT-1 also cost half? No, LRT-1 kept standard fares because a private operator runs it; extending the discount there has been proposed but not implemented.
Do students and seniors lose their extra discount? No, the white beep card discounts for students, seniors and PWDs remain applicable on top of the general fare structure.
What is the cheapest possible train ride now? P6.50 on MRT-3 or P7.50 on LRT-2 for short-distance trips, before any e-wallet cashback.
The bottom line for commuters
For anyone riding EDSA or the Recto-Antipolo corridor regularly, trains are now the default budget move: an end-to-end MRT-3 trip at P14 undercuts most air-conditioned bus segments, and pairing beep or GCash Commute QR with promo windows pushes costs lower still. The smart play is structural rather than tactical, load a blue beep card for the automatic half price, keep GCash handy for cashback days, and treat any return to full fares as news you would hear loudly. Until then, the cheapest Metro Manila commute in years is the one already running under your feet.
