The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is focusing on raising bus fares rather than jeepney fares, citing provisional fare adjustments already covering jeepney operating costs.
The Philippine government, through Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, stated that the primary focus of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is the potential fare hike for buses amidst ongoing discussions on increasing fares for public utility vehicles (PUVs). Hearings are being held to assess the approval of various fare hike petitions. According to LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II, the requests from jeepney operators and drivers to increase fares are considered premature because there is an existing provisional one-peso fare increase that still covers fuel costs for jeepneys. Additionally, efforts continue to target unauthorized or “colorum” vehicles, with support from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), focusing on enforcement against these illegal operators. However, since buses have not received any provisional fare adjustments, the LTFRB’s priority is to discuss a fare hike for buses. The board is also planning to engage experts to evaluate the potential economic impact of any fare increases. This move follows a spate of fuel price hikes which have prompted transport groups to file multiple petitions for fare increases across various public utility vehicles. The last approved provisional fare increase was implemented in October 2023, and since then, transport sectors have lobbied for fare increases including for jeepneys, buses, and taxis.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/977273/ltfrb-priority-fare-hike-buses-palace/story/
