Public transport fares will increase starting Thursday, March 19, 2026, after the government approved a provisional fare hike in response to the continued rise in fuel prices.

Under the adjustment, traditional jeepneys will add P1 to the minimum fare while modern jeepneys will increase fares by P2.

This means the minimum fare will be P14 for traditional jeepneys and P17 for modern jeepneys for the first four kilometers. An additional P0.20 will be charged for every succeeding kilometer.

Some drivers and operators in Pangasinan said the increase is too small to offset the rising cost of fuel.

“’Yung piso useless ‘yan. Ewan ko ba saan mapupunta ang piso. Ito roundtrip ko P250 pesos pa lang,” Elvis Seno, a jeepney driver, said.

The fare adjustment comes after another major oil price hike that pushed diesel prices above P100 per liter in some areas. Diesel is the main fuel used by jeepneys.

According to monitoring by the One Pangasinan Transport Federation (OPTF), some drivers have temporarily stopped operating because of the high fuel cost.

“Kasalukuyan pa lang kami na nagmo-monitor, wala pa kaming figure sa dami ng nagtigil-pasada, pero may mga nag-report na sa akin na talagang may mga huminto,” Bernard Tuliao, president of the One Pangasinan Transport Federation, said.

Drivers also said fewer jeepneys are now on the road.

“Marami na ang hindi bumibiyahe ngayon sa taas ba naman ng fuel,” Seno added.

Based on OPTF monitoring as of March 17, estimated retail prices in Pangasinan range from P90 to P110 per liter for diesel, P75.20 to P95 for gasoline, and P91 to P140 for kerosene.

Bus fares are also expected to increase in the coming days. The minimum fare will rise to P15 for ordinary buses and P18 for air-conditioned buses.