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Alexis Romero - The Philippine Star
March 12, 2026 | 12:00am
A jeepney driver hands over the change to a commuter in Quezon City yesterday. Transport group Piston is seeking a provisional fare hike of P2, from P13 to P15, amid soaring fuel prices
Miguel De Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — Commuters may soon be burdened with higher transport costs as fare rates are expected to increase because of soaring oil prices stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez said yesterday.
The DOTr chief said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is studying a petition for a fare hike. He did not provide details.
“There is a pending petition. The process usually is for the LTFRB to make a recommendation,” Lopez told reporters at Malacañang yesterday.
According to the transportation chief, the LTFRB submitted a recommendation, but it was asked to “recompute” and “re-crunch” the numbers.
“I told (LTFRB) chairman Vigor (Mendoza II), study this again, you have to re-crunch the number especially on what is going on right now. We have to remember, the rise in fares is accompanied by the rise in the prices of goods and services,” Lopez said.
Asked if there is already a decision to increase fares, Lopez replied in the affirmative, but stressed that the final numbers are still being computed.
Transport group Piston has announced a plan to seek a P2 provisional fare increase, which would raise the minimum jeepney fare to P15 from P13, if granted.
Lopez said the government is considering slashing or adjusting certain airport charges, such as landing and take-off fees, to help stabilize airfares ahead of the Holy Week travel surge.
The DOTr and Toll Regulatory Board have also urged tollway operators to offer discounts to Class 3 motor vehicles using expressways as part of the mitigation measures.
The North Luzon Expressway Corp. projects daily traffic in the tollway to decline by up to 1.5 percent, as Filipinos may abandon their private cars for now with fuel prices rising.
Cash aid to drivers
At a press briefing, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the government is providing P5,000 aid to public transport drivers starting next week.
Gatchalian said public utility drivers can be considered as “individuals in crisis situation” because their livelihood has been greatly affected by the Middle East conflict.
The situation makes them qualified to benefit from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation or AICS program, he added.
The government will also distribute rice to vulnerable families, according to Office of the Executive Secretary Undersecretary Georgina Yang.
Farmers and fisherfolk communities will also be receiving fuel subsidies from the Department of Agriculture this month. – Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Josiah Antonio, Elijah Felice Rosales
