The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday acknowledged that the recently approved jeepney fare increase is not enough to offset the impact of rising fuel costs.
In an interview on DZRH News Dos Por Dos, LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza said the P14 minimum fare for traditional jeepneys still falls short of addressing the financial burden faced by drivers following a significant spike in oil prices.
Mendoza explained that the fare adjustment—which includes a base fare increase and an additional P0.20 per kilometer—would only generate an estimated P750 to P900 in additional daily income for drivers.
“Kulang po talaga. Totoo kasi ang pagpresyo dati po pumapatak na sa 100. Nung ginawa natin itong desisyon na ito, that was last week, ang kung kokompute po natin ang dagdag kita sa ating mga jeepney, ay humigit-kumulang anywhere between 750 to 900 pesos a day,” Mendoza said.
The LTFRB chief pointed out that diesel prices have risen by more than P30 per liter in recent weeks, creating a significant gap between income and operating costs.
“Umakyat na po ang ating krudo ng higit 30 pesos. Doon na tayo nagkakaroon ng problema,” he said.
The new fare rates will take effect on Thursday, raising the minimum jeepney fare from P13 to P14, while fares for modern jeepneys will increase from P15 to P17.
In a Facebook post, Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) criticized the increase as inadequate, noting that diesel prices have reached around P120 per liter. The group estimated that drivers now spend up to P3,600 daily—or roughly P90,000 monthly—on fuel alone.
PISTON is pushing for a P5 fare increase and the removal of value-added tax (VAT) and excise taxes on petroleum products.
Mendoza also revealed that some drivers have temporarily stopped operating due to high fuel costs, resulting in longer passenger queues at jeepney terminals across several parts of the country. Others have reduced the number of trips, particularly in provincial areas, although some are gradually resuming normal operations.
“Maraming nag-report sa amin na marami nagsimula sa provincial basis na nagbawas sila ng mga trips nila. Pero ngayon binabalik na po nila. Yung ibang jeepney [drivers] nagsabi na hindi sila makakapagbiyahe, hindi lang dito sa Metro Manila pati sa Mindanao. Nagpaalam po sila kung puwedeng bawasan nila ang number of trips,” Mendoza said.
Despite the current adjustment, the LTFRB said it remains open to further fare increases, depending on petitions filed and the outcome of public hearings.
Meanwhile, fare hike petitions for other public utility vehicles, including motorcycle taxis, UV Express vans, and regular taxis, are also under review following submissions filed last week.
