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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Transportation to suspend the announced public utility vehicle fare hike, citing the need to consider the welfare of commuters, workers, and students amid the global oil crisis
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Fare increases were announced just a day earlier, covering jeepneys and other land transport modes
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The President assured transport workers that additional support would be provided to cushion the impact of the suspension
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A subsidy program with a P2.5-billion fund is already being rolled out
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Marcos ordered the DOTr to expand its free ride program and offer discounts on MRT and LRT
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Toll road discounts were also ordered to reduce costs for motorists
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DOTr confirmed it will implement the directive and is preparing support programs for both commuters and PUV drivers
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DOTr said it is expediting the release of fuel subsidies for qualified drivers and operators
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pulled the brakes on a sweeping public utility vehicle (PUV) fare increase on March 18, ordering the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend the hikes announced just a day earlier as surging oil prices tied to the escalating Middle East conflict renewed pressure on Filipino commuters.
Marcos made the directive public in a video message posted on his social media page, explaining that the timing of the increases was ill-suited to the economic strain already bearing down on ordinary Filipinos.
“I-postpone-an muna natin ‘yan dahil eh nasa gitna ngayon tayo nitong ah sitwasyon na ito na kailangan ay patuloy ang ating pag-alalay sa ating mga commuter, sa lahat ng mga ating manggagawa, estudyante, lahat ng gumagamit ng ating transport system,” Marcos said.
(Let’s postpone that because we are in the midst of this situation wherein we should continue to support our commuters, all workers, students, everyone using the public transport system.)
The fare hikes were announced by the DoTr on March 17, two weeks after US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a broader Middle East conflict and drove oil prices higher.
Alongside the suspension, Marcos moved to shore up relief measures across the transport sector. He ordered the DOTr to expand its free ride program and extend discounts on the train systems MRT and LRT, while also directing reductions in toll road charges.
The President also offered reassurance to transport workers caught between the suspended fare hike and rising operating costs.
Speaking in Filipino, he said the government will “rush and increase” the assistance to the PUV sector.
Transport secretary Giovanni Lopez earlier said the government has set aside P2.5 billion in fuel subsidies, with P5,000 allocated per operator.
The DOTr, in a statement, confirmed it would comply with the presidential directive and said it is preparing a suite of support programs for commuters and transport operators.
The department also said it is moving to fast-track the release of fuel subsidies for qualified drivers and operators.
“The DOTr and all its attached agencies are working to ensure that all possible aid and support are delivered promptly to commuters, drivers, and transport operators,” the department said.
