MARCH 10, 2026 — The battle over jeepney fares is heating up again, and this time, it’s not just about loose change — it’s about survival. Transport group Piston is set to file a petition on March 16 for a provisional ₱2 fare increase, raising the minimum to ₱15. The reason? Oil prices have jumped from ₱17 to ₱24 per liter, and diesel could soon hit ₱80. For jeepney drivers, that’s not just a pinch — it’s a chokehold.

Piston president Mody Floranda laid it bare during a rally in Quezon City, saying “At present, jeepney drivers can take home ₱400 to ₱500 after 12 to 18 hours on the road. With the oil price hike, they could lose ₱200 to ₱300.” 

He added that with a ₱2 fare increase, drivers could at least earn ₱400 after serving 200 passengers in a day — a fragile lifeline, but a lifeline nonetheless.

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Vigor Mendoza has already signaled that a provisional fare increase is inevitable, given the looming spike in diesel prices. But Floranda isn’t stopping there. He insists that fare hikes must go hand in hand with wage adjustments.

“The minimum wage should be raised to ₱1,200 so workers can afford higher transportation costs,” he argued. 

It makes sense. It’s not enough to raise fares if commuters can’t pay them.

Meanwhile, President Marcos, fresh from a U.S. trip, is reportedly seeking emergency powers from Congress to address the economic crunch. Whether those powers will translate into relief for drivers and commuters remains to be seen.

The bottomline is, jeepney drivers are fighting to keep their livelihoods afloat, while commuters brace for yet another hit to their wallets. The ₱2 increase may sound small, but for millions of Filipinos who ride jeepneys daily, it’s a reminder that every peso counts.

But when the price of survival keeps climbing, who really shoulders the burden … the driver behind the wheel or the passenger in the backseat?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)