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Photos show the traffic along EDSA on December 11, 2025
STAR / Walter Bollozos
MANILA, Philippines — The recently approved P20 base fare increase might lead to a significant drop in commuters, potentially worsening the plight of drivers already reeling from oil price hikes, the chief of the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) group said.
In an interview with GMA News on Wednesday, March 18, Laban TNVS president Jun de Leon said that while the additional fare provides some relief, it remains insufficient to cover the staggering rise in fuel costs.
“'Yung paglobo po ng gasolina at ah, diesel ay hindi po normal, sobrang taas. Kaya kung ito ang inaasahan ng ating gobyerno, 'yung pagtaas ng pamasahe na ipapasan sa mga ah, commuters natin eh, hindi po ito sasapat talaga,” De Leon said.
(The spike in fuel prices means that the fare increase being passed on to commuters will not be enough to solve the problem.)
“Kinakabahan ho kami dito baka po wala ng sumakay sa TNVS pag sobrang taas na ng pamasahe,” he added.
(We’re nervous that people might stop riding TNVS if the fares become too high.)
Despite the fare hike, De Leon revealed that after working for 18 grueling hours, some drivers only manage to take home P300 after accounting for fuel and other expenses.
He estimated that drivers have lost approximately P500 in daily income due to the recent price surges.
De Leon also said that some of their members have surrendered their vehicles due to the financial strain of operating costs and exhaustion.
“Kaya minamabuti na lang nilang isauli muna ang sasakyan at sabi naman nila ay babalik sila kapag maayos na ang lahat,” De Leon said.
(Many choose to return their cars and say they’ll just come back when things get better.)
On March 17, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulation Board approved a fare increase across the board, from jeepneys down to the TNVS, due to the increase in oil prices.
Oil companies have raised their rates due to supply scarcities stemming from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
At some gas stations, the price of fuel has already reached or exceeded P100 per liter. This instability is driven by the Iranian Navy blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint responsible for the transit of 20% of the global oil supply.
