THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that it will begin a series of hearings and public consultations on petitions for fare increases following successive oil price hikes.
LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said two hearings will be held next week, with weekly discussions to follow, to assess requests from transport groups seeking higher minimum fares.
“We will be holding two hearings next week to discuss all the issues surrounding the petitions for fare increase, and we will be holding weekly hearings in relation to the matter after that,” Mendoza said in a statement.
Several transport groups filed petitions citing rising fuel prices and higher maintenance costs, including the high prices of vehicle parts and other operating expenses.
Mendoza said the LTFRB’s own verification and studies found merit in the arguments the groups raised.
“Drivers and operators are really at a disadvantage in the prevailing fare matrix. The arguments they raised in the petition are valid and really represent the realities on the ground,” he said.
The last fare adjustment was approved in October 2023, when the LTFRB granted a provisional P1 increase, which Mendoza described as a compromise as the country was still recovering from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since then, several petitions have been filed, with the most recent submitted by three major transport groups in October 2024.
The proposals seek to make the 2023 provisional increase permanent and add another P2 to the minimum fare, raising traditional jeepney fares from P13 to P15 and modern jeepney fares from P15 to P17.
The petitions also call for higher charges for every succeeding kilometer beyond the 4-kilometer minimum.
While the LTFRB has been trying to avoid fare increases due to their potential impact on inflation, Mendoza said the recent oil price hikes reopened discussions on the issue.
“We understand that any increase in fares affects the daily lives of commuters who rely on jeepneys for affordable transportation, but we must also ensure that our drivers and operators can sustain safe and reliable services and provide for their families,” he said.
Mendoza said the agency will invite economic experts and consult with concerned government offices, including the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, to assess the broader economic impact and identify possible compromises.
Aside from jeepneys, bus and taxi operators have also filed separate petitions seeking fare adjustments.
