A transport group has filed a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Northern Mindanao (LTFRB-10) in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, March 9, 2026, seeking a P5 provisionial fare increase due to the continued rise in diesel prices triggered by the Middle East crisis.

According to the Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Cooperatives (NOMFEDTRASCO), the oil price increases have already affected their operations, which prompted them to seek a fare increase.

The group said the fare increase is only temporary and could be rolled back once fuel prices go back down.

“Anyway, kung mo balik na pud pagkunhod ang atong krudo, ibalik ra pud nato ang pletehan sa dati,” NOMFEDTRASCO Chief Executive Officer, Luzminda Escobidal, said.

LTFRB-10 received the petition and will forward it to its central office for evaluation.

“Sa karon, nakaandam na tanan para sa rekomendasyon sa LTFRB para sa provisional fare increase pero pinag-aaralan pa ito,” LTFRB-10 Director, Alexis Joseph Bendijo, said.

Meanwhile, transport groups said that while waiting for LTFRB’s decision, they are also considering reducing the number of modern jeepneys operating temporarily to cut fuel and maintenance costs.

“Katong mga low income namo nga unit pundo sa’to kay, imagine, mag-sweldo baya mi og driver,” Escobidal said.

The Oro Transport Service Cooperative (OROTSCO), on the other hand, said it has already implemented stricter fuel monitoring on its vehicles.

OROTSCO Chairman Samuel Abello reminded drivers to avoid leaving engines running unnecessarily in order to save on fuel.

“Kung dili kinahanglan ipaandar ang makina, ayaw ipaandar. Naa man usahay nga bisan gapaniudto ug panihapon sila, dili palungon,” Abello said.

LTFRB-10 said around P2.5 billion has been allocated for the agency’s fuel subsidy and service contracting program.

“Kung naa tay service contracting mo update dayon mi kung kani ang pili-on ug ang possibleng provisional fare increase bilang huling solusyon na,” Bendijo said.