Higher fares, higher burden: Iloilo commuters adjust to PUV hike

ILOILO CITY — Higher public transportation fares took effect nationwide Monday, Sept. 28, adding to the financial burden of commuters already grappling with the rising cost of living.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved new fare rates for public utility vehicles (PUVs), raising the minimum traditional jeepney fare from PHP 13 to PHP 14 for the first 4 kilometers, with PHP 2 for every succeeding kilometer, up from PHP 1.80.

The increases were originally set for March but were suspended amid the conflict in the Middle East, which drove up global oil prices.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez later approved the LTFRB’s recommendation to lift the suspension, citing the continued rise in fuel prices and its impact on the transport sector.

Modern jeepney fares rose from PHP 15 to PHP 17 for the first 4 kilometers, with succeeding kilometers priced at PHP 2.40.

For regular taxi services, the provisional flag-down rate increased from PHP 50 to PHP 65, while fare petitions for taxis remain pending with the LTFRB.

Succeeding-kilometer rates were also adjusted across several modes of public transportation, including city and provincial buses, point-to-point services, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), and airport taxis.

Ordinary city bus fares, for instance, rose from PHP 13 to PHP 15 for the first 5 kilometers.

For many commuters in Iloilo, however, the increase means another expense to absorb without a matching rise in income.

Wages not keeping pace

Sheryl Lyn Lamis, a 27-year-old private-sector employee in Iloilo City, said she understands why drivers have been asking for higher fares.

However, she said commuters are also struggling with stagnant wages.

“I would actually agree with the fare increase because drivers are also struggling with the rising price of gasoline. But my salary isn’t increasing,” Lamis told Daily Guardian.

She said saving on transportation is difficult because her workplace is too far from her boarding house to walk.

Instead, she said she will have to cut back on food and other daily expenses to cover the higher fares.

Another commuter, Kezia*, a public school lecturer, expressed frustration over what she described as the burden being passed on to commuters.

She cited the increase in taxi fares as an example of how the adjustment could affect passengers.

“It’s frustrating because the burden is being placed on commuters instead of finding a long-term solution or changing the policy,” Kezia said.

For Alice, a government employee who commutes daily between Miagao town and Iloilo City, the fare increase means another adjustment to an already limited monthly budget.

She said she spends about PHP 200 a day on transportation alone.

She noted that while the increase may seem small on its own, the added cost becomes difficult to manage when combined with her other daily expenses.

She added that transportation already takes up a significant portion of her budget, on top of rising prices of goods and the broader impact of inflation.

Students juggle multiple rides

Students who rely on several modes of transportation are also feeling the effect of higher fares.

Angel Bhabe*, a first-year information technology student at a private university in Iloilo City, said her daily transportation expenses have become more difficult to manage.

She said a single trip between her boarding house and school costs about PHP 24.

Her expenses rise further when she travels home to Dueñas town every Tuesday and returns to her boarding house later in the week, paying additional bus and tricycle fares.

“With the fare increase, it has become much more expensive. I have no choice but to save on my allowance because my allowance isn’t increasing along with the fare,” she said.

Qualified students are entitled to a 20 percent discount on public transportation fares under Republic Act 11314, or the Student Fare Discount Act.

Drivers, transport group welcome adjustment

While commuters worry about higher transportation costs, drivers say the increase must also be viewed alongside rising operating expenses.

Edgar*, a 43-year-old jeepney driver, described the fare increase as only a small amount of assistance for drivers, given the continuing rise in fuel prices.

Still, he acknowledged that it could help cushion the impact of higher fuel costs.

The Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) likewise welcomed the implementation of the fare adjustment.

In a radio interview, WVTC Chairman Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon said the transport sector had been waiting for the increase.

He thanked the national government and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for approving the fare petition.

Meanwhile, as commuters and transport workers adjust to the new rates, the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition in Panay has announced protest activities in Iloilo City on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30.

The group is calling for measures to address rising fuel prices, including changes to fuel taxes and the Oil Deregulation Law.

The law, Republic Act 8479 or the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, allows oil companies to set pump prices without government approval.

A picket rally is also expected at Jaro Plaza.

(*The interviewees sought anonymity in the story to speak freely.)