Geline Salac

Jeepney drivers, ride-hailing apps seek fare increase after twin oil price hikes

Motorists pass through Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, one of the areas covered by the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reminds the public to observe traffic rules as the policy is reimplemented across major roads in Metro Manila. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

Jeepney and ride-hailing app drivers on Thursday urged government to approve fare increases to stave off the effects of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/25/gas-stations-full-ahead-of-2nd-fuel-price-hike-in-a-week-0704">twin oil price hikes this week. </a>Boy Vargas, president of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), said jeepney drivers have long suffered from rising oil prices while waiting for a response to their petition for provisional fare increase, which was filed 3 years ago.“Natutuwa sana kami na ibibigay ‘yung aming pisong provisional increase na hinihingi. Last 3 years pa ‘yan pero nakakalungkot nga ngayon pati &#x27;yung piso parang hindi na rin ibibigay, pati ‘yung fuel subsidy,” he said in a DZMM interview.&quot;Mas gusto ko yung piso (fare increase). Parang panakip ‘yan dun sa Nawala sa iyo dun sa pagtaas ng diesel. Makakatulong din ito (fuel subsidy) pero…ilang araw lang ‘yan tapos wala na,” he added.This was echoed by Transport Network Vehicle Services spokesperson Saturnino Ninoy Mopas, who decried President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s statement that a fuel subsidy may not be necessary after oil prices dropped following the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/6/23/trump-says-israel-and-iran-agree-to-total-ceasefire-0703">Iran-Israel ceasefire</a>.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NFMz6l5hUg8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>“Nagulat kami biglang kumambyo ang ating presidente pero ganunpaman nagpapasalamat tayo sa Panginoon, ‘yung nangyayari sa Gitnang Silangan, ‘yung giyera ay humupa na. Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito para hindi maapektuhan ang mga bagay-bagay,” he said in a separate DZMM interview.Mopas said the TNVS community sought a fare increase in 2023, which has yet to be granted.“Hanggang ngayong 2025 hindi pa rin napagbibigyan, napakataas na ng gasoline. Kung bababa ito gaya nung mga nakaraang linggo, siguro hindi pa nga panahon para magbigay ng subsidiya. Matagal na naming hinihiling ‘yang (fare increase). Sana ito ay madinig na,” he said.Mopas noted fuel subsidies are a short-term solution to the problem of rising fuel prices.“Pag nagbigay ng 5k subisidy, limang beses lamang namin ikakarga ng gasolina, ubos na, kulang pa. Long term ang hinihingi namin sa gobyerno,” he said.The Philippine government earlier said it is planning <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/25/ltfrb-says-finalizing-guidelines-for-fuel-subsidy-1704">fuel subsidies</a> to shield public utility drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk from the impact of soaring fuel prices amid rising tensions in the Middle East.The government has earmarked P2.5 billion for fuel subsidy under the 2025 national budget. But President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said that there was no need yet for fuel subsidy  as global oil prices went down after the ceasefire announcement between Israel and Iran.The subsidy will be triggered once the Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel.

Jeepney and ride-hailing app drivers on Thursday urged government to approve fare increases to stave off the effects of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/25/gas-stations-full-ahead-of-2nd-fuel-price-hike-in-a-week-0704">twin oil price hikes this week. </a>

Jeepney and ride-hailing app drivers on Thursday urged government to approve fare increases to stave off the effects of twin oil price hikes this week.