CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it will announce the possible fare increase for public utility vehicles (PUVs) today, March 17, following the recent surge in fuel prices.
The transport regulator said the proposed adjustment is being studied carefully to balance the needs of drivers and operators while considering the financial capacity of commuters.
The agency noted that the potential fare hike is being considered as transport operators and drivers face mounting operational costs due to the continued increase in petroleum prices.
Meanwhile, transport groups are urging regulators to consider provisional fare adjustments for various public transport sectors affected by the fuel price surge.
Jeepney operators on fare hike
Ellen Maghanoy, president of the Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives, urged regulators to consider a provisional fare increase for jeepneys as fuel prices continue to rise, with diesel expected to exceed ₱100 per liter.
During an interview yesterday, Monday, Maghanoy clarified that the recent fare adjustment discussions currently apply only to provincial buses operating on provincial routes and not yet to jeepneys.
“Based on what we know, the increase applies to provincial buses. For traditional and modern jeepneys, there has been no approved increase yet,” Mgahanoy said.
Maghanoy noted that, although buses are also categorized as public utility vehicles (PUVs), the fare adjustment should not be limited to them because jeepney operators and drivers are likewise affected by rising fuel costs.
“If fuel prices keep going up, all operators are affected, not only buses but also traditional and modern jeepneys,” Maghanoy said.
She said transport groups are proposing a provisional increase of ₱2 to ₱5 for the first five kilometers for both traditional and modern jeepneys, while keeping the succeeding distance fare unchanged.
Maghanoy emphasized that the proposed adjustment would only be temporary and could be rolled back if fuel prices decline. ‘This is only provisional. If fuel prices go down, the fare can also be returned to the previous rate,” she said.
She added that transport groups hope regulators will soon consider their proposal as diesel prices are projected to increase further in the coming days.
Taxi operators await LTFRB decision
Taxi operators are also awaiting the outcome of discussions with the LTFRB regarding a possible fare adjustment.
Richard Cabucos, president of the United Cebu Taxi Operators Association (UCTOA), said the issue is expected to be discussed during consultations or hearings with regulators where transport groups will present concerns about rising fuel and operating costs.
According to Cabucos, the current taxi flag-down rate is around ₱50, but operators believe that if regulators approve a provisional adjustment, the increase could reach about ₱20 added to the flag-down rate.
“The computation will ultimately come from the LTFRB. We are only presenting our concerns and hoping for an adjustment,” the operator said.
Cabucos noted that several taxi operators are now organized under transport cooperatives composed of multiple operators managing varying numbers of units.
For now, taxi groups said they are waiting for the official announcement from the LTFRB regarding whether a provisional fare adjustment will be approved. “Kung pila ang i-aprub nga increase sa LTFRB, mao ra sad na among ipatuman,” said Cabucos.
Bus operators studying fare hike
Provincial bus operators are likewise studying the possibility of a fare increase as fuel prices continue to climb.
Julieto Flores, chairman of the Provincial Operators Transport Cooperative, said that although discussions about a possible adjustment are ongoing, no new fare increase has been officially approved. For now, he said bus fares remain unchanged despite rising operational costs.
Based on current estimates, Flores said the minimum fare for the first five kilometers, which is currently around ₱13, could increase to about ₱15, while the succeeding kilometer rate, previously around ₱1.50, may reach approximately ₱2.
Flores explained that the proposed adjustments aim to help drivers cope with the rising cost of fuel, particularly diesel.
Despite this, he acknowledged the burden that any fare increase would place on commuters. “Passengers are also struggling, but drivers are already having a difficult time because of the high fuel prices,” he said.
The cooperative currently has around 15 member operators managing about 120 buses, mostly serving routes in southern areas in Cebu.
Transport groups said they will continue to wait for guidance from the LTFRB regarding possible fare adjustments for public utility vehicles as fuel prices continue to rise.
| Written by Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/RAE
