DOTr: Fare hikes remain suspended

Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez on Thursday announced that the fare hike suspension approved in March remains.

“‘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.

(The fare hike that was suspended at the time when our problems began due to the Middle East and the oil prices rose. We suspended the implementation of the fare hike and it remains suspended today.)

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. — BM, GMA News