If your daily commute got a little more expensive last week, you're not imagining it. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) approved higher fares for public utility vehicles, effective Sept. 28, 2026. Here's a plain guide to what changed so you know what you should be paying.
The new fares
According to Philstar Life (Melanie Uson), the approved rates are:
- Traditional jeepneys: ₱14 minimum fare, plus ₱2 per additional kilometer.
- Modern jeepneys: ₱17 minimum fare, plus ₱2.40 per additional kilometer.
- Ordinary city buses (Metro Manila): ₱15, up from ₱13.
- Air-conditioned buses: ₱18, up from ₱15.
- Ordinary provincial buses: ₱12, up from ₱11.
- TNVS: a 20 percent increase. P2P buses: a 15 percent increase.
GMA News (Jean Mangaluz) adds that the jeepney minimum covers the first four kilometers, and that the per-kilometer rates rose from ₱1.80 to ₱2 for traditional jeepneys and from ₱2.20 to ₱2.40 for modern ones. Taxi and UV Express fares also received provisional increases; check posted rates for those.
Your discounts haven't gone away
GMA reports that students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities continue to receive the mandatory fare discounts. If you qualify, carry your ID and ask for the discounted fare.
Why now
Per both outlets, the increase responds to rising fuel prices tied to the Middle East conflict. Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez approved the recommendation, writing that it considered "prevailing operating cost conditions in the public transport sector and the need to maintain the viability and adequacy of public transport services." GMA notes the fare adjustment originally set for March 2026 had been suspended by President Marcos before this approval.
What to do if you're charged more than the approved rate
Check the fare matrix posted inside the vehicle, and politely ask the driver or conductor to show it. The reports we reviewed did not list a hotline or complaint channel, and we are not going to invent one; the DOTr and the LTFRB are the agencies to approach, and their official pages are the safest place to find current contact details. We'd also note, matter-of-factly, that a fare notice without an obvious place to complain is a gap the agencies could close easily.
The bigger picture
Fares are rising alongside prices generally: economists polled by The Philippine Star expect September inflation near 6.7 percent, with fuel and peso weakness among the drivers. If you budget weekly, a few extra pesos a trip adds up quickly, so it's worth recalculating your transport line now.
Sources
- Philstar Life, "DOTr approves PUV fare hikes effective Sept. 28," Melanie Uson — https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/486689-dotr-approves-puv-fare-hikes-effective-sept-28
- GMA News, "DOTr approves LTFRB fare hike recommendation for PUVs," Jean Mangaluz — https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/1003715/dotr-approves-ltfrb-fare-hike-recommendation-for-puvs/story/
- The Philippine Star, "Poll: September inflation likely rose to 6.7%," Keisha Ta-Asan, Oct. 5, 2026 — https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/10/05/2560916/poll-september-inflation-likely-rose-67
Suggested category: Policy. Tags: DOTr, LTFRB, Transportation, Oil Prices, Inflation.