Rowegie Abanto

Commuters wait for their respective rides along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on September 23, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Commuters wait for their respective rides along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Monday, September 23, 2024, during the first day of PISTON's two-day transport strike.

 The protest, taking place from September 23 to 24, opposes the franchise consolidation requirement under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. PISTON argues that this policy threatens the livelihood of small operators and drivers, who cannot afford the expensive modernized units.

Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

QC COMMUTERS

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177321455995620240923-transport-strike-litex-MT2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Commuters wait for their respective rides along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on September 23, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — The government’s fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle drivers is &quot;not enough&quot; to cushion the impact of the recent massive oil price hikes, transport groups said Wednesday.In a briefing before the House Committee on Transportation, Manibela President Mar Valbuena said traditional jeepney drivers are losing half their income to high fuel cost.“As of kahapon, nag-a-average na kami sa P400 to P500 na nawawalang kita. Ngayon kung magpapatuloy itong pagtaas ng petrolyo, baka mas malaki pa ‘yong mawawala sa average na kita namin na P800 per day, do’n sa 12 hours to 14 hours na pamamasada namin. Ganoon na po kalaki ‘yong nawawala,” he told lawmakers.“Kahit na gaano pa po kabilis ang pag-release ng fuel subsidy ng DOTr, ng LTFRB, hindi po sasapat ito. Kasi galing po tayo do’n sa P60 or P55 (per liter), ngayon P90 na ang pinakamataas? Ang laki po ng tinalon,&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/11/puv-drivers-to-get-p5-000-fuel-subsidy-starting-next-week-1243">PUV drivers to get P5,000 fuel subsidy starting next week</a></div>He said their last resort is to ask for a P2 provisional fare increase.Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas (LTOP) backed calls for a provisional fare increase.“Kusang loob na po titigil ang driver namin, dahil wala nang kinikita,” LTOP President Orlando Marquez said.“Gatasan itong batas na (oil) deregulation law. Sana mapag-aralan mabuti sa Kongreso,” he added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/11/dotr-eyeing-to-cut-aviation-fees-to-stabilize-airfares-1435">DOTr eyeing to cut aviation fees to stabilize airfares despite global oil shocks</a></div>A group of UV Express drivers is also seeking a provisional fare hike. Leonard Bautista, who represents a group of modern jeepney cooperatives, meanwhile, called on the government to consider modern jeepneys in its Service Contracting Program.&quot;Ang kailangan namin hindi lang sa fuel subsidy. Ang kailangan namin after sales, kasi nadadagdag ‘yung pagbabayad namin sa bangko, ‘yung pag-maintain namin sa mga sasakyan, tapos ito pa ‘yung pagtaas ng ating fuel,&quot; Bautista said.<div>FUEL SUBSIDY </div>Of the P2.5 billion budget for government fuel subsidy, 55 percent, or the biggest chunk, is estimated to be allocated for 247,760 traditional and modern jeepneys, UV Express vans, and TNVS units, 33 percent for 723,000 tricycles, and 11 percent for 150,000 delivery riders, according to the DOTr.But a group of tricycle drivers said many from their sector failed to receive past fuel subsidies from the government.If the war in the Middle East persists and fuel prices remain high for a “longer period”, Department of Finance Director Jolly La Rosa said the government does not have sufficient fiscal space to sustain the fuel subsidy program.“But as far as I know, the economic managers are looking at a worst-case scenario, making plans, support most vulnerable, in case this lasts for more than a month,” she told lawmakers.A group of truckers urged the government to implement measures to bring down the cost of fuel instead.Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice pushed for the removal of both the excise tax and value added tax on fuel to help bring down its cost.

The government’s fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle drivers is "not enough" to cushion the impact of the recent massive oil price hikes, transport groups said.

The government’s fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle drivers is "not enough" to cushion the impact of the recent massive oil price hikes, transport groups said.

Transport groups say fuel subsidy 'not enough' amid huge oil price hikes

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Transport groups say fuel subsidy 'not enough' amid huge oil price hikes

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 11, 2026 03:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Fuel Subsidy

Oil Price Hike

PUV

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