Government support measures for the transport sector should be fully utilized first before any decision is made on pending jeepney fare hike petitions, as rising fuel costs continue to strain both operators and commuters, said House Committee on Transportation Chairman and Quezon City Rep. Franz Pumaren.
Several proposals are currently under review, including petitions to increase the minimum jeepney fare to as much as P25. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is expected to conduct consultations with stakeholders before ruling on the requests.
Officials noted that while operators face mounting fuel expenses, commuters are also dealing with broader economic pressures, making any fare adjustment a sensitive issue.
Existing interventions—including fuel subsidies, discounted fuel, per-kilometer support for drivers and operators, and fare discounts—are being cited as immediate relief measures that should be maximized.
“Sa ngayon na ginagawa natin—meron tayong fuel subsidy, may discounted fuel, meron ding per-kilometer na binibigay sa operators at drivers ng jeepney at bus, at may 20% discount pa. I think we can bank on that first,” said Pumaren.
He added that regulators should reassess the situation before approving any fare increase.
“‘Yung sa fare adjustment, that will fall under the LTFRB, but they really have to revisit the whole scenario,” he explained.
Any fare decision, he noted, must also consider the financial capacity of commuters.
“Hindi lang naman ‘yung transport sector ang titignan natin. Titingnan din natin yung commuters if they can afford right now,” he stated.
Concerns were also raised about the potential broader impact of fare hikes, particularly on low-income households already affected by rising costs of living.
Lawmakers said longer-term measures are also being studied, including possible reforms to existing policies on fuel pricing and transport support, following the grant of emergency powers to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the energy crisis.
“Pag-aaralan natin ‘yan. Marami nang nakapila na panukala para gumawa ng bagong batas.”