Transport groups have formally appealed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for an additional ₱1 provisional fare increase for the first four kilometers of jeepney rides, citing the continued rise in fuel prices, spare parts, and vehicle maintenance costs.
According to Ramon Guevarra, president of the Jaen Nueva Ecija Transport Corporation, the fare hike has become necessary to sustain operations and ensure the safety and roadworthiness of jeepneys.
“The continuous increase in the cost of maintenance, spare parts, batteries, and tires makes it harder for operators to keep vehicles in safe condition,” Guevarra said.
Melencio “Boy” Vargas, president of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), echoed the call, emphasizing that the fare adjustment is long overdue. ALTODAP was among the groups that filed a fare hike petition in August 2025.
In their petition, ALTODAP urged the LTFRB to make permanent the ₱1 provisional increase granted in October 2023 and to approve an additional ₱1 to cushion the impact of rising fuel and maintenance expenses on drivers and operators.
At present, the minimum fare stands at ₱13 for traditional jeepneys and ₱15 for modern jeepneys for the first four kilometers. If approved, the rates will rise to ₱14 and ₱16, respectively.
Guevarra and Vargas stressed that it has been a year since the last fare adjustment and that the current economic conditions—driven by inflation and higher living costs—make the increase both urgent and necessary.
They also appealed to the government to recognize the fare hike as a form of relief for drivers and operators who continue to bear the brunt of escalating operational costs.