ILOILO City — With fuel prices soaring past sustainable levels and fare increases still frozen, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is urging commuters in Western Visayas to voluntarily pay more than the standard jeepney fare to help struggling drivers stay afloat.
In a social media statement posted Monday, March 30, LTFRB Region 6 appealed to the riding public’s “understanding and compassion for our public utility jeepney drivers, who continue to serve despite the rising cost of fuel and the suspension of the fare increase.”
“Our drivers strive each day to provide for their families while ensuring that public transportation remains available and reliable,” it said, underscoring the mounting pressure on operators.
With fare adjustments still pending, the agency instead encouraged voluntary contributions from commuters:
“In this challenging time, if you have a little extra to spare, we sincerely encourage you to extend your kindness by offering a small additional amount beyond the regular fare,” it added.
It stressed that even small acts of generosity could help ease the burden: “Every act of generosity, no matter how small, makes a meaningful difference. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.”
The appeal comes as transport groups continue to press the government to act on pending fare increases.
Last week, the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI) staged a one-day transport holiday to pressure the government—particularly the Department of Transportation (DOTr)—to implement the P1 to P2 fare hike earlier approved but later suspended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
WVATCCI president Sherry Rose Songano said the protest was a necessary step to prevent the collapse of the jeepney industry as fuel prices continue to climb.
“This decision is not a matter of choice but an unavoidable measure taken to prevent the total financial collapse of our industry, the public utility jeepneys,” Songano said during a press conference on March 21 at Christ the King Terminal in Ungka, Jaro district.
She noted that operators absorbed successive fuel price hikes from February 28 to March 21 to keep services running. But with diesel prices now exceeding P110 per liter, continued operations without fare adjustments are no longer sustainable.
“If left unaddressed, this situation will inevitably result in the total collapse of our operations, an outcome that will adversely affect not only the riding public but also the thousands of employees and families whose livelihoods depend on the transport industry,” Songano added.
WVATCCI is calling for the immediate implementation of the suspended fare hike—P1 for traditional PUJs and P2 for modern units—as well as an urgent and transparent review of fare structures based on current fuel market conditions.
Without swift government action, the group warned, both transport operators and commuters could face a deeper transport and economic crisis./PN
