The Office of the Transport Cooperative (OTC) on Tuesday appealed to transport operators to defer the proposed increase in jeepney fares, urging compassion for Filipinos still recovering from recent calamities and rising living costs.

“This is not just about economics — it is about empathy,” OTC Chairman Atty. Teofilo E. Guadiz III said. “The Filipino people are struggling to rebuild their homes, their dreams, and their lives. Let us not add to their pain,” he added.

Guadiz pointed to the plight of families affected by recent earthquakes in the Visayas and Mindanao and widespread flooding in Luzon, which displaced thousands and disrupted income sources.

“How can a mother who lost her home to the flood find the strength to pay higher fares?” he asked. “How can a father earning just enough for food bear another burden when his daily commute already consumes his modest wage?”

While acknowledging the financial strain on drivers and operators due to rising fuel and maintenance costs, Guadiz appealed for compassion and patience.

“Mga kapatid nating drayber at operator, kayo rin ay mga ama, mga anak, at mga anak ng Diyos. Tulungan natin ang ating kapwa Pilipino sa panahong ito ng pagsubok. Ipagpaliban muna natin ang dagdag pasahe — bilang handog ng malasakit sa bayan,” he said.

The OTC urged the government instead to activate fuel subsidy programs and expand service contracting to support drivers without passing the burden to commuters.

“Let this be the moment when government and the transport sector walk hand in hand — not as adversaries, but as protectors of the people,” Guadiz said. “Drivers and operators have always been the heart of our nation’s mobility. We ask that they also be the heart of our nation’s mercy.”

He emphasized that the appeal was made in the spirit of unity. “Compassion is the best public policy,” he said. “Let us show the world that the government listens, that our leaders care, and that our transport sector has a heart.”

Guadiz reaffirmed OTC’s commitment to work with the DOTr, LTFRB, and local cooperatives on longer-term solutions such as service contracting, modernization support, and energy-efficient transport systems.

“We ask for understanding, patience, and unity,” he said. “This is not the time to divide the nation over fares. It is the time to unite the nation through compassion.”