The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Thursday that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered a review of possible fuel subsidies for public transport operators following a projected oil price increase next week.

LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza said the agency is also studying a possible fare increase amid rising costs, including the recent minimum wage adjustment.

“We were instructed by [DOTr] Secretary [Giovanni] Badoy [Lopez] yesterday to compute what kind of subsidy [can still be provided to public transport and] to also study the fare increase because everything has increased, including the minimum wage,” Mendoza said in a DZMM radio interview.

Mendoza said the agency’s initial computation showed that the government would need about P2.4 billion monthly to provide a P10-per-liter fuel discount to all public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“If we include buses, TNVS, taxis, and motorcycle taxis—if we include them all [with jeepneys and UV Express]—it will go up to P2.4 billion a month,” he said.

He added that providing the subsidy for a year would require more than P20 billion in funding, which would still depend on approval from other government offices.

“That is why we will look at it on a monthly basis. It is around P2.4 billion,” Mendoza said.

The LTFRB chief said the government may consider providing a P10 discount to public transport operators as fuel prices continue to rise.