Philippines Continues Suspension of Public Transport Fare Hikes

Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez announced on Thursday that the fare hike suspension approved in March remains in effect. “‘Yung fare hike nung March 2026 that was suspended, nung panahon na ‘yon nagsimula ang mga problema natin dahil sa Middle East, tumaas ang presyo ng langis. We suspended the implementation of that fare hike at mananatili pong suspended ‘yan ngayon,” Lopez said. In March, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. suspended the implementation of fare hikes approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) despite the increases in the prices of petroleum products amid tensions in the Middle East. The LTFRB, in particular, approved fare hikes of P1 to as much as P40 in all public utility vehicles, except regular taxis and motorcycle taxis. The fare increases were supposed to be effective on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Lopez, however, clarified that hearings on the fare hike petition will continue despite the continuous suspension of the approved fare increases. This decision aims to alleviate the burden on households amidst rising inflation concerns in the Philippines, particularly by controlling transportation costs for lower-income segments. Public transport fares are a significant part of daily expenses for many Filipinos, making their fluctuations directly impactful on the economy.