The Department of Transportation (DoTr) will remain focused on expanding financial relief and targeted subsidies to soften the blow of rising fuel costs on public utility vehicle drivers, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced.

Lopez said the DoTr and partner government agencies are accelerating relief initiatives, including an expanded fuel discount and direct cash assistance, as diesel prices hover around P93.38 per liter nationwide.

Beginning 15 August, public utility jeepney and UV Express drivers will receive a P12 fuel discount per liter, capped at 150 liters weekly. Up from an earlier P10 discount, the expanded subsidy is expected to save drivers up to P1,800 every week.

Recognizing that fuel discounts alone are insufficient, Lopez said he coordinated with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian to integrate transport workers into the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport Assistance Program.

“Based on my discussion with Secretary Rex, transport groups will be included in the UPLIFT assistance for the next rollout of the P2,000 monthly assistance through December,” Lopez said.

The DSWD created the UPLIFT program to assist low-income families following oil price surges during the first half of 2026 caused by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, the Philippines’ primary oil supplier.

To fund these immediate relief efforts, the DoTr is temporarily pausing amortization assistance activities under its Public Transportation Modernization Program to redirect funds toward direct aid.

Lopez cited that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is finalizing a memorandum of agreement to ensure existing program members are prioritized once loan assistance resumes.

Additional support measures include extending toll discounts for provincial buses, waiving terminal fees for operators at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, and waiving monthly terminal fees across public transport terminals nationwide.

Lopez stressed that these comprehensive relief initiatives are designed to cushion drivers while maintaining a freeze on public transport fare increases. A proposed P1 to P2 fare hike remains suspended under explicit instructions from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The fare hike will remain suspended because the President told us that, particularly now that oil prices are unstable, these types of problems must be resolved by the government and the burden should not be passed on to the commuting public,” Lopez said, adding that the suspension does not mean the proposed fare adjustment has been rejected, but rather deferred to an appropriate time.