Cebu transport groups back jeepney fare hike

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu transport groups CITRASCO and PISTON-Cebu have welcomed the impending P1 fare hike for public utility jeepneys (PUJs), describing it as a long-overdue measure amid rising operational costs.

“It’s about time,” said Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO MPC) general manager Ryan Benjamin Yu.

Yu pointed out that aside from the continuous rise in fuel prices, other operating expenses such as maintenance, spare parts, and the daily needs of drivers have also surged.

Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON)-Cebu chairperson Greg Perez echoed the sentiment, calling the fare increase necessary but still insufficient.

“The one-peso hike is needed, but it’s not enough to cover all the operational costs. Drivers are barely surviving,” Perez said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier announced that it is poised to approve a P1 increase across the board for PUJ fares as early as next week, citing recent fuel price hikes.

In a report by the Philippine Star, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III clarified that the increase will be a flat rate only, with no per-kilometer adjustment, to avoid placing additional burden on commuters.

“It will be a one-peso increase across the board, but that’s it. There will be no per-kilometer hike—it’s already too burdensome for consumers,” he said.

Guadiz added that the trigger point for the fare hike would be if global oil prices—based on Dubai crude—breach the $80-per-barrel mark.

LTFRB-7 regional director Eduardo Montealto Jr. told The Freeman that he has no information yet as to when the new fare increase for jeepneys will take effect.

“Hulaton pa nato ang Memorandum Circular nga ipagawas sa Central Office,” Montealto said yesterday.

National transport groups including Pasang Masda, the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations have also been lobbying for the fare increase in response to rising operational costs.

ALTODAP president Melencio Vargas described the possible provisional fare hike as a “much-needed relief” for jeepney drivers.

“If oil prices go down immediately, we’re open to adjusting fares accordingly,” he said.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB said it is also reviewing a fare hike petition for provincial buses, with possible adjustments to be implemented gradually—starting with a revised base fare for the first 10 kilometers and additional charges for succeeding distances.

In contrast, Metro Manila bus operators have withdrawn their fare hike requests, citing dwindling ridership due to increasing competition from modern jeepneys, trains, and ride-hailing services.

“If fares go up, commuters may simply stop using their services,” Guadiz noted.

In a separate interview, Julieto Flores, founder and chairman of the Cebu Provincial Operators Transport Cooperative, said they did not seek any petition to increase bus fares in Cebu.

“Wa ra mi ni file og petition for fare increase sa mga buses pero og naay increase, amoang nang i-implement,” said Flores.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the latest round of fuel price increases, recorded this week, was the highest so far this year.

The DOE attributed the spike to heightened global market volatility caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, along with speculative trading and fears of supply disruptions.

To cushion the impact of fuel price hikes, the government is set to roll out a P2.5-billion fuel subsidy for qualified drivers of jeepneys, buses, taxis, ride-hailing, and delivery vehicles. — With a report from Philippine Star News Service/ATO (FREEMAN)