MARCH 18, 2026 — President Marcos has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend the looming fare hikes for jeepneys, buses, and other public transport amid skyrocketing fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict. While commuters breathe a sigh of relief, drivers are left wondering how far a one-time ₱5,000 fuel subsidy can stretch in the face of relentless pump price increases.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Wednesday that fare increases will be deferred, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East that has driven fuel and commodity prices higher. 

“Kaya't inutos ko sa DOTr na suspendihin muna ang fare hike at i-defer muna natin 'yan,” Marcos said in a video message. 

(That’s why I ordered the DOTr to suspend the fare hike for now and let’s defer that.)

The DOTr had just approved a ₱1.00 fare hike for traditional jeepneys and ₱2.00 for modern jeepneys, along with increases for provincial buses, point-to-point buses, and airport taxis. These were set to take effect this week before Malacañang intervened.

For commuters — students, workers, and ordinary folk — the suspension is welcome news. Daily transport costs are already a heavy burden, and any hike would have hit wallets hard. But for jeepney and bus drivers, the story is different. Fuel prices continue to climb, and the promised ₱5,000 fuel subsidy barely scratches the surface of their expenses.

Transport groups have long argued that fare adjustments are inevitable if fuel costs remain high. 

This move highlights the government’s balancing act: protecting commuters from inflation while trying to keep transport workers afloat. Marcos promised to “add more support” for drivers, but details remain vague. Without a long-term solution, subsidies risk becoming band-aid fixes.

The question now is whether this suspension is a genuine lifeline or just political optics. Commuters may cheer today, but drivers are left asking: ‘Paano naman kami?’

(Image: Presidential Communications Office | Facebook)