LTFRB weighs fare hike, mulls commuter relief

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is wrapping up its recommendations on fare hike petitions, balancing calls for higher fares from transport groups with proposals meant to shield commuters from further strain.

LTFRB Chairperson Vigor D. Mendoza II said Wednesday that the agency will submit its recommendations to Department of Transportation within the week, after consolidating feedback from nationwide consultations with operators, drivers, and passengers.

“We will submit our recommendations to our bosses over the weekend. Right now, we are drafting the inputs based on the arguments during the public consultations made for this specific purpose, which is the fare increase,” Mendoza said.

He noted that the justifications raised were familiar, adding that “every time there are petitions for fare increase, the same reasons are being raised so these reasons will be included in what we are going to submit.”

Mendoza earlier ordered all LTFRB regional directors to hold consultations covering jeepneys, buses, and taxis, with their findings due by 14 November.

The agency plans to submit its final position to the DOTr on or before 17 November.

“We want this to become nationwide in scope to hear the sentiments of all the concerned stakeholders. In today’s public consultation, it is fruitful since each sector made their inputs to come up with a solution that is acceptable to everybody,” he said.

Some transport groups, he said, proposed measures to cushion the impact of any fare adjustment on commuters.

Mendoza added that the LTFRB would include these inputs in its report to the DOTr, noting that issues beyond the agency’s jurisdiction would be endorsed to the proper authorities.

Based on LTFRB data, at least five major transport groups filed petitions in 2023 seeking a P5 increase in the minimum fare for the first four kilometers and P1 for each succeeding kilometer.

Additional petitions from bus and taxi operators were filed in 2024, citing low income amid rising fuel, maintenance, and operational costs.