Cebu Commuters Face Higher Fares Starting Today

Higher fares for public utility vehicles (PUVs) take effect Monday, Sept. 28, in Cebu, prompting some commuters to question the timing of the increase as the P42 minimum wage hike is not scheduled to take effect until October.

The fare adjustments were approved by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) following the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) recommendation to lift the suspension on previously approved fare increases.

The new rates come amid continued increases in fuel prices, which the LTFRB cited as a factor affecting the transport sector.

Some Cebu commuters expressed their dismay over the timing of the adjustment in comments on a SunStar Cebu Facebook post about the fare hike.

“Now that wages are increasing, they are raising the fares as well,” one commenter said in Cebuano.

Another commuter pointed out that workers have yet to receive the P42 minimum wage increase.

“Why is this happening? It would have been better if there was no increase so fares would not increase yet. The P42 increase was just taken from the fares,” she said in Cebuano.

“The wage increase has not even taken effect yet — it will only take effect in October, but the fare increase came ahead of it.”

Under the approved rates, traditional public utility jeepneys will charge P14 for the first four kilometers, up from P13. The succeeding kilometer rate will increase from P1.80 to P2.

Modern jeepney fares will rise from P15 to P17 for the first four kilometers, while the succeeding kilometer rate will increase from P2.20 to P2.40.

DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez approved the LTFRB recommendation on Sept. 25, lifting the suspension of the fare adjustments on Sept. 26.

The increases also cover buses, taxis, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), airport taxis, point-to-point buses and UV Express vehicles.

For metro and city buses, the minimum fare for the first five kilometers is now P15 for ordinary buses and P18 for air-conditioned buses. The succeeding kilometer rates are P2.49 and P2.98, respectively.

Provincial buses will charge a minimum of P12 for the first five kilometers for ordinary buses. Succeeding kilometer rates range from P2.20 for ordinary buses to P3.35 for luxury buses, with different rates for air-conditioned, deluxe and super deluxe units.

Airport taxis will have a P115 flag-down rate covering the first 500 meters. Existing charges for succeeding distances and waiting time remain unchanged.

For TNVS, the approved base fares are P65 for sedans, P75 for AUVs and SUVs, P55 for hatchbacks and P165 for premium vehicles. A P15 pick-up fare per kilometer will also apply.

Point-to-point bus fares will increase by 15 percent based on the existing rates for their respective routes.

The LTFRB also authorized provisional increases for UV Express units and taxis. Traditional UV Express vehicles will have a provisional rate of P2.60 per kilometer, while modern UV Express units will charge P3 per kilometer.

Regular taxis will have a provisional P65 flag-down rate, while premium silver and premium gold taxi services will charge P80 and P95, respectively. The LTFRB said the provisional rates remain subject to evaluation and may still be adjusted.

Meanwhile, transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) Cebu said the latest increase does not resolve its separate petition for a larger fare adjustment.

Piston Cebu chairman Greg Perez said the group has a pending petition before the LTFRB seeking a P10 fare increase.

In a phone interview on Sunday, Sept. 27, Perez said the P1 increase had previously been approved by the DOTr but was later withdrawn before being reinstated for implementation.

Perez said the group continues to stand by its P10 fare petition because the LTFRB has yet to act on it.

The new fares will take effect as commuters begin another week of regular travel, while the separate minimum wage adjustment is expected to be implemented in October.