ILOILO City — Public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers in Western Visayas cannot collect higher fares starting today, Sept. 28, unless they first secure and prominently display the updated fare matrix, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 warned.
The directive effectively makes the fare matrix the driver’s authority to charge the new rates, with LTFRB-6 director Richard Osmeña stressing that traditional and modern jeepneys without the updated guide cannot impose the increase on passengers.
“Simultaneous ang fare matrix release and fare hike increase,” Osmeña told Panay News.
LTFRB-6 will begin releasing the fare matrices for free this Monday morning at its regional office in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district here.
Once obtained, the matrix must be posted in a conspicuous area inside the PUV where passengers can easily see it.
The LTFRB Central Office likewise warned operators and drivers against charging the higher rates without displaying the updated fare guide.
“Pinapaalalahanan ang lahat ng operator at drayber ng mga pampublikong sasakyan na tiyaking nakapaskil sa loob ng kanilang mga sasakyan ang kaukulang updated fare guide bago ipatupad ang taas-pasahe” the LTFRB Central Office stated in an advisory.
Updated fare guides may also be downloaded for free from the LTFRB’s official website.
Commuters were encouraged to report PUVs that fail to display their updated fare guides through the LTFRB’s 1342 hotline or official Facebook page for appropriate action under existing laws.
NEW JEEPNEY FARES
Under the adjustment taking effect, the minimum fare for traditional public utility jeepneys will rise by P1, from P13 to P14 for the first four kilometers. The succeeding kilometer rate will increase from P1.80 to P2.
For modern jeepneys, the minimum fare will increase by P2, from P15 to P17 for the first four kilometers, while the succeeding kilometer rate will rise from P2.20 to P2.40.
Transport Network Vehicle Service rates will also increase. The base fare for sedans will rise from P45 to P65; AUVs/SUVs, from P55 to P75; hatchbacks, from P33 to P55; and premium units, from P145 to P165. Pick-up fares will be P15 per kilometer.
For airport taxis, the fare for the first 500 meters will increase from P75 to P115, while the existing P4 charges for every succeeding 300 meters and every two minutes will remain unchanged.
Point-to-Point buses, meanwhile, will impose a 15-percent increase based on existing fares on their respective routes.
UV Express services have been granted provisional increases from P2.40 to P2.60 per kilometer for traditional units and from P2.50 to P3 per kilometer for modern units.
Provisional taxi flag-down rates were set at P65 for regular taxis, P80 for Premium Silver Taxi Service and P95 for Premium Gold Taxi Service.
The provisional adjustments for UV Express and taxis are temporary while the LTFRB completes the necessary proceedings and evaluation for their final fare adjustments.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez approved the LTFRB recommendation to implement the PUV fare adjustments that had been suspended in March 2026 amid continued increases in fuel prices.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to balance the sustainability of PUV operations with commuters’ needs while maintaining sufficient and reliable public transportation.
“Itong umiiral na pamasahe sa PUVs, ito na ‘yung pamasahe bago pa man ‘yung fuel crisis. Kaya hindi na ito sapat para magkaroon nang maayos na kita ‘yung ating mga driver at operator. Napapanahon na itong dagdag-pasahe para masiguro rin nating sapat ang mga PUV sa kalsada, at may masasakyan ang ating mga komyuter,” Lopez explained.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa ating transport groups at maging sa mga komyuter sa inyong pang-unawa habang pinag-aaralan namin itong fare adjustments. Kailangan lang po talagang balansehin ang ano mang desisyong gagawin ng ahensya. Kayo po ang aming top priority sa lahat ng programang aming ipinatutupad sa DOTr,” the transport chief said.
The mandatory 20-percent fare discounts for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities will remain in effect.
TRANSPORT GROUPS WELCOME HIKE
Western Visayas transport groups welcomed the increase, saying it would provide some relief from soaring fuel costs.
Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) president Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon said the cooperative would first secure its fare matrices from LTFRB-6 Monday morning before imposing the new rates to avoid putting the franchises of its modern jeepneys at risk.
“Tama kadaku nga bulig kay imagine pila ka bulan ang antos namon sini. Dugay na ina nga petition namon asta sa national na. Subong nagapasalamat kita kay gin-approve nila,” Parcon told Panay News.
Diesel is currently at P101 per liter while gasoline is at P90 per liter.
Parcon said the P1-to-P2 increase for jeepneys would already provide significant relief because operators also benefit from other fuel subsidies, including a P12-per-liter discount at selected fuel stations.
The cooperative is also awaiting the release of P20,000 in monthly financial assistance for three months, or up to P60,000 for each modern jeepney unit. All 95 modern units operated by WVTC are expected to qualify for the assistance.
Metro Iloilo Transport Service Cooperative (MITSCOOP) chairperson Cherry Acebuche similarly said the P1-to-P2 fare increase, although modest, would help cooperatives cope with increasingly expensive fuel.
Acebuche assured commuters that MITSCOOP would secure the new fare matrices before collecting the higher fares./PN
