MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has approved the recommendation of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to implement the public utility vehicle (PUV) fare adjustment that was suspended in March 2026.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief said Friday that the decision was in response to the continued rise in fuel prices and its impact on the transportation sector.
Under the approved fare adjustment, the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys will increase by P1, from P13 to P14, for the first four kilometers, with an additional P2 for every succeeding kilometer, Lopez said.
Modern jeepneys, meanwhile, will have a P2 increase in their base fare, from P15 to P17, with an additional P2.40 for every succeeding kilometer, he said.
“The approved fare adjustments will take effect starting Monday, September 28,” Lopez said.
He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had directed the agency to ensure a balance between the sustainability of PUV operations and the needs of commuters while maintaining sufficient and reliable public transport services.
Prior to the approval of the fare adjustment rates in March, the DOTr and LTFRB had already conducted consultations with various transport groups.
"The current fares for PUVs are the same fares that were in place even before the fuel crisis. They are no longer sufficient for our drivers and operators to earn a decent income,” Lopez said.
“The time has come for this fare increase so that we can also ensure there are enough PUVs on the road and that our commuters have vehicles to ride,” he stressed.
He thanked transport groups and commuters for their understanding while the concerned government agencies studied the fare adjustments.
“We simply need to balance every decision the agency makes. You are our top priority in all the programs we implement at the DOTr," Lopez said.
Meanwhile, fare adjustment petitions for regular, premium silver and premium gold taxi services remain pending with the LTFRB.
The UV Express service, on the other hand, already has a provisional fare increase, the DOTr said.
PUVs with approved fare adjustments must post their corresponding updated fare matrices in their respective units before charging passengers the new rates, the agency said.
Complete fare matrices for PUVs may be downloaded from the LTFRB's website, it said.
The secretary said PUVs must continue to give the mandatory 20-percent fare discount to students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
