LTFRB to hold weekly public consultations amid calls for fare hike

LTFRB schedules weekly public consultations as jeepney fare hike requests mount

Amid rising fuel prices, particularly diesel, jeepney drivers and their groups have called on the government to approve a fare increase.

In response, and to ensure a fair and balanced assessment for all stakeholders, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that it will conduct weekly public consultations over the next several weeks.

“We will be holding two hearings next week to discuss all the issues surrounding the petitions for a fare increase. After that, we will continue to conduct weekly hearings in relation to the matter,” said LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II.

_{A jeepney in Manila/LTFRB photo}

He added that several transport groups have filed petitions seeking an increase in the minimum public transport fare, citing the continued rise in oil prices as well as escalating maintenance and operating costs.

“Drivers and operators are really at a disadvantage under the current fare matrix. The arguments they raised in their petition are valid and accurately reflect the realities on the ground for those in the transport sector,” added Mendoza.

He explained that, based on a summary of the petitions, transport groups are seeking to make the PHP 1.00 provisional fare increase granted in 2023 permanent, along with an additional PHP 2.00 hike in the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys, raising it from the current PHP 13.00 to PHP 15.00.

“We understand that any fare increase will affect the daily lives of commuters who rely on jeepneys for affordable transportation. However, we must also ensure that drivers and operators can sustain safe and reliable services amid rising costs, and that they are able to provide for the needs of their families,” he added.

According to LTFRB, in addition to inviting industry experts, the hearings will be conducted in coordination with other concerned government agencies, particularly the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the petitions.

In 2023, the LTFRB approved a PHP 1.00 provisional fare increase for passenger jeepneys, raising the minimum fare to PHP 13.00 for traditional jeepneys and PHP 15.00 for modern jeepneys.