STALLED OUT: Fare hike scrapped at last minute; W. Visayas transport group furious

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A planned jeepney fare hike was suspended a day before its scheduled rollout, a move the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) said will deepen losses among drivers already reeling from soaring fuel prices.

The fare hike, which was set to take effect Thursday, March 19, was deferred following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to the Department of Transportation, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on commuters.

“Given the situation caused by the conflict in the Middle East, this may not be the right time to increase fares,” Marcos said.

He added that the government must continue supporting commuters, workers, and students who rely on public transportation.

Under the approved adjustment, modern jeepneys were set to raise the base fare by PHP 2 to PHP 17.

Traditional jeepneys were set to increase the base fare by PHP 1 to PHP 14 for the first 4 kilometers.

WVTC President Raymundo Parcon criticized the last-minute suspension, calling it a setback for operators already grappling with rising fuel costs.

“What president do we have? […] What kind of decision is that? Is he killing the transport sector?” he told the Daily Guardian in a phone interview.

Parcon said that even with the approved increase, the adjustment remains insufficient, noting diesel prices have surged to between PHP 103 and PHP 108 per liter this week.

He explained that modern jeepneys previously spent around PHP 2,500 daily on fuel for six trips, when diesel cost only PHP 54 to PHP 60 per liter.

At current prices, fuel expenses have risen to about PHP 3,500 per trip, excluding driver and passenger assistant salaries.

“The increase is not enough with the staggered yet skyrocketing increase in the cost of fuel. Whether for modernized or traditional units, we are still at a loss despite the increase,” he said.

Parcon argued that, given the sharp rise in fuel costs, a higher fare increase should have been approved, around PHP 7 for modernized units and at least PHP 2 to PHP 4 for traditional jeepneys.

Despite the suspension, Marcos said the government is working to expand and expedite assistance to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.

The president recently approved a PHP 5,000 cash subsidy for tricycle drivers, with distribution starting March 17 in Metro Manila and expanding nationwide to other public utility vehicle drivers by April.

Parcon, however, expressed doubt over the promised subsidy.

“What support is he going to give? We are already losing trust in the president if that is the case. Imagine, we are in high hopes of the fare increase, even though it is PHP 2, but now I am shocked that it will not be implemented,” he said.

He added that subsidies are sometimes delayed, while drivers and operators continue to incur daily losses, and their effects on families persist.

Parcon argued that a fare increase should still be put in place, emphasizing that a one-time subsidy wouldn’t be sufficient to cover the rising fuel expenses.

“The subsidy is just once a year. We are almost one month away from the staggered increase in fuel. If they are going to give the subsidy, they should give it immediately,” he said.

“The subsidy is just one-time, big-time. Our drivers can spend that in a day or two,” he added.

With continued uncertainty in fuel prices, Parcon said the group is considering reduced deployment on certain days depending on passenger volume in Iloilo City as part of cost-cutting measures.

He said full deployment will be maintained on Thursday due to a planned transport strike by progressive groups opposing oil price hikes.

“Next week, we might be implementing a 50-50 percent deployment in our units,” he said.

Parcon also said a proposal to turn off air-conditioning units in modernized jeepneys has been scrapped due to extreme heat.