ILOILO City – Despite rising operational costs, major transport groups in Western Visayas have no immediate plans to file a fare increase petition for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and mini-buses.
The Western Visayas Federation of Transport Cooperative and Corporation (WVFTCC) and the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) clarified their stance following a fare hike petition filed by unnamed transport groups in Metro Manila seeking to increase the minimum jeepney fare to P15.
“We are adopting a wait-and-see approach regarding the petition in Metro Manila,” said WVFTCC president Rizal Alido. “If the situation worsens, particularly with fuel prices continuing to rise, we may have no choice but to follow suit.”
Alido also said if the fare hike is approved in Metro Manila, it will automatically apply to other regions anyway, including Western Visayas.
He admitted that transport operators are already struggling, with daily earnings per mini-bus unit averaging only P3,000 to P4,000, far below the target of P6,000 needed to sustain operations.
“It’s a heavy burden for us right now. We need P6,000 per day to survive, but we’re only earning half of that,” Alido lamented.
Meanwhile, WVTC president Raymundo Parcon emphasized their sensitivity to commuters’ financial struggles and stated that a fare hike is not in their immediate plans.
“We know our commuters are also struggling financially, so we are holding off on increasing fares for now,” said Parcon.
He noted that while the region’s minimum wage increased in November 2024, it barely covers the rising cost of basic necessities. Parcon fears that raising fares would further burden passengers.
Despite financial challenges, WVTC can still meet its operational obligations, including timely salary payments, bank loan repayments, and providing benefits for drivers and conductors, Parcon assured.
Currently, the minimum fare in Western Visayas is P13 for traditional PUJs and P15 for mini-buses.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) recently announced that it is reviewing the P15 minimum fare hike petition filed by transport groups in Metro Manila.
The LTFRB stated that it is carefully considering factors such as fuel price trends, inflation rates, and the impact on commuters before making a decision.
“While we are committed to ensuring the sustainability of transport operators’ livelihoods, we must also balance this with the welfare of commuters,” the LTFRB said in a statement.
The regulatory body plans to hold public consultations and hearings to ensure transparency and inclusivity in its decision-making process.
The current minimum fare has been in place since Oct. 8, 2023. Several transport groups have since called for fare increases, citing rising fuel costs, inflation, and other economic pressures./PN
