The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered a public hearing on a petition filed by transport group Piston seeking a P10 increase in the minimum jeepney fare, its chairman said Tuesday.
LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the petition will undergo formal review, with commuter groups and other stakeholders invited to submit comments as part of the regulatory process.
“Inutos ko na po na i-set for hearing, bibigyan natin ng pagkakataon din yung mga commuter groups and other groups to comment, “Mendoza said in an interview on Dos Por Dos.
“Idadaan natin sa proseso, pero sabi ko hearingan din agad yan kasi napaka-importante yan sa panahon ngayon.”
The current minimum jeepney fare stands at P13. If approved, the proposed increase would raise it to P23.
Mendoza said fare adjustments are typically guided by fuel price movements, noting a long-standing rule of thumb: a P1 fare increase for every P10 rise in fuel prices. Based on this, a P10 hike would correspond to a roughly P100 increase in fuel costs.
He further acknowledged that while fuel prices previously surged to levels that could justify such an increase, recent declines may affect the petition’s basis.
“Titingnan natin yan atsaka yung pinaka-importante sa lahat yung balancing at affordability ng ating mga commuters. Kaya ba nila abutin yan yung dagdag 10 pesos kung ibibigay natin?” he said.
Mendoza added that the board had already issued a decision on an earlier fare hike petition filed more than two years ago, even before the fuel crisis, but its implementation was deferred due to concerns over its impact on the public.
The LTFRB chief said the timeline for resolving the new petition will depend on the level of opposition. If uncontested, a decision could be reached within two to three months, factoring in requirements such as publication notices, consultation with the Office of the Solicitor General, and coordination with economic and labor agencies.
“Depende sa oposisyon, kung walang oposisyon mapapabilis yan,” Mendoza said.
He also warned of the broader economic implications of fare increases, noting that jeepney fares have among the highest inflationary impact across public transport modes due to their widespread use.
“Ang jeep pa nga ay may pinaka-mataas na inflationary effect, kung titingnan natin lahat ng denomination ng public transport, ang jeepney ang [may] greatest impact ng inflation. Dahil sa dami atsaka widespread ang jeepney kumpara sa ibang klaseng public transport.”
The scheduled hearing is expected to weigh the petition against economic conditions and commuter welfare before issuing a final decision.
