Marcos suspends PUV fare hike amid Middle East oil crisis

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of the planned fare increase for public utility vehicles, saying the move is not appropriate at a time when oil prices are rising due to tensions and fighting in the Middle East.

In a video message, Marcos directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to immediately suspend the fare hike and defer its implementation, stressing that the government must prioritize relief for commuters, workers, and students who rely on public transportation.

“This is not the time to increase fares for our countrymen, so I have ordered the DOTr to suspend the fare hike and defer its implementation,” the President said.

Marcos assured transport workers that government support will be accelerated and expanded to help cushion the impact of the decision on their livelihood.

He also instructed the DOTr to roll out a nationwide free ride program to help ease commuters’ daily expenses. In addition, fare discounts will be implemented on MRT and LRT trains, while toll fee reductions will also be introduced to lower the cost of using expressways.

The fare increase was originally scheduled to take effect on March 19, which would have added ₱1 to fares for traditional jeepneys and ₱2 for modern jeepneys.

Earlier, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved fare increases for buses, airport taxis, and transport network vehicle services (TNVS).

Meanwhile, petitions seeking fare hikes for regular taxis and UV Express units are still pending before the LTFRB and have yet to be approved.