A group of jeepney drivers and operators in Iligan City are staging a three-day transport holiday starting Wednesday, March 25, until Friday, March 27, 2026, to push for a P5 fare increase.

Several jeepney drivers stopped plying their routes on Wednesday in support of the protest driven by the continued spike in prices of petroleum products triggered by the tension in the Middle East.

The transport holiday was led by the Boses at Samahan ng mga Jeepney Drivers at Operators Association (BUSINA), with participating routes including Dalipuga, Acmac, San Roque, St. Mary, Bagong Silang, Pala-o, Tubod, Suarez, Buru-un, Ubaldo, and Lugait.

BUSINA said drivers are already struggling with rising fuel costs.

“Sa usa ka adlaw motubil ra me ug P1,000, pinakadako P1,050. Karon, P2,000 na gyud amo natubil sa unom ka trip. Motubil nami sa pagkakaron P2,400. Wala na gyud, lisod na gyud karon… mao ni karon among gibuhat aron dunggon pod me sa gobyerno,” BUSINA Dalipuga Line Chairman, Segundo Sumaylo, said.

Currently, the minimum fare is P13, which could increase to P18 if the group’s proposed increase is approved.

Sumaylo said about 80 percent of its nearly 1,800 members joined the transport holiday. However, some transport groups opted not to participate.

“Naa sa mga 80% ang nag-join karon. Almost 1800 mi mga miyembro sa BUSINA,” Sumaylo added.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Northern Mindanao (LTFRB-10) said it will continue to monitor the situation in Iligan City. It has also prepared vehicles to assist affected passengers during the three-day protest.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has earlier announced a P1 increase for traditional jeepneys and P2 for modernized PUJs, but this was later suspended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.