Taxes & Income
Jeepney, bus, taxi and TNVS fares went up on September 28 after the DOTr lifted a six-month suspension. Diesel rose ₱18.31 a liter in three weeks before a partial rollback, two transport groups are striking this week, and the government's UPLIFT aid is being extended. Here's where things stand.
By Chai Cabana·How we check our numbers
Commuters across the country are paying more to get to work starting Monday, September 28, 2026. That's the day the fare increases for jeepneys, buses, taxis and ride-hailing cars took effect. Transport groups are also going ahead with a strike over fuel prices from September 28 to 30.
The fare hikes aren't new. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had approved them back in March, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended them as the Middle East conflict pushed up global oil prices. Last week the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued a memorandum directing the LTFRB to lift that suspension.
According to the DOTr, the adjustments "directly respond to the concerns of several public transport operators on increasingly high operating costs brought about by the fuel crisis." Just days earlier, the Palace and the DOTr had both described a fare hike as a "last resort."
The minimum fare for a traditional jeepney rises from ₱13 to ₱14 for the first four kilometers. Each succeeding kilometer now costs ₱2, up from ₱1.80. The minimum fare for modern jeepneys goes from ₱15 to ₱17, with ₱2.40 for each succeeding kilometer.
| Vehicle | Minimum fare | Each succeeding km |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional jeepney (first 4 km) | ₱13 → ₱14 | ₱1.80 → ₱2.00 |
| Modern jeepney (first 4 km) | ₱15 → ₱17 | ₱2.20 → ₱2.40 |
| City bus, ordinary (first 5 km) | ₱15 | ₱2.49 |
| City bus, air-conditioned (first 5 km) | ₱18 | ₱2.98 |
| Provincial bus, ordinary (first 5 km) | ₱12 | ₱2.20 |
| UV Express, traditional / modern | — | ₱2.60 / ₱3.00 (provisional) |
Provincial buses above the ordinary class also have new per-kilometer rates: ₱2.45 for air-conditioned, ₱2.60 for deluxe, ₱2.70 for super deluxe and ₱3.35 for luxury. Point-to-point buses are allowed a 15% increase on their existing per-route fares.
For taxis, the provisional flag-down rate is now ₱65 for regular units, ₱80 for Premium Silver and ₱95 for Premium Gold. Airport taxis now start at ₱115 for the first 500 meters, up from ₱75. The LTFRB said the provisional taxi rates are not final and may still change.
TNVS base fares each go up by ₱20: hatchbacks from ₱35 to ₱55, sedans from ₱45 to ₱65, AUVs and SUVs from ₱55 to ₱75, and premium units from ₱145 to ₱165. Per-kilometer and per-minute charges for TNVS are unchanged.
The LTFRB reminded the public that the 20% fare discount for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities stays in place. Drivers are required to post the updated fare matrix inside their vehicles.
Here's an example. Say a worker rides two traditional jeepneys to work and two back, and each ride is 8 kilometers. Under the old rates each ride cost ₱20.20. Now it costs ₱22.
That's ₱1.80 more per ride, or ₱7.20 a day. Over 22 working days it comes to about ₱158 a month.
The increase arrived just two days after Metro Manila's new minimum wage of ₱755 took effect under Wage Order NCR-28. For a minimum wage earner on the 261-day factor, that raise is worth ₱1,305 a month. Commuters who take buses, UV Express or TNVS will see a larger share of it go to fares. The minimum wage calculator shows what your own daily rate works out to per month.
Oil companies raised pump prices again on Tuesday, September 22, according to the Department of Energy (DOE):
| Product | September 22 increase | Total increase, September 1–28 | September 29 rollback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | +₱8.82/L | +₱18.31/L | −₱7.57/L |
| Kerosene | +₱6.47/L | +₱16.67/L | −₱5.85/L |
| Gasoline | +₱4.88/L | +₱15.25/L | −₱0.24/L |
This was the third major hike in a row. Earlier, on September 8, gasoline went up by ₱4.69 a liter, diesel by ₱5.18 and kerosene by ₱5.58. After the September 22 increase, some stations were selling diesel at more than ₱100 a liter.
Some relief arrives on Tuesday, September 29. Oil companies are rolling back diesel by ₱7.57 a liter and kerosene by ₱5.85, but gasoline by only ₱0.24. The DOE credits the partial restart of Saudi Arabia's oil exports and renewed hopes for talks between the United States and Iran. Even after the rollback, diesel is still more than ₱10 a liter above its price at the start of September.
The DOE attributes the increases to tight global supply. The main cause is damage from a drone attack on Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, known as the Petroline. Energy officials warned that local prices could stay high for several weeks. Brent crude went back above $100 a barrel on September 9 as tensions between the United States and Iran flared up again.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the DOE had certified that Dubai crude had averaged more than $80 a barrel for a month. Crossing that threshold allows the government to suspend fuel excise taxes. The Development Budget Coordination Committee recommended relief for LPG and kerosene only.
On September 25, President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 125, which suspends the excise tax on LPG and kerosene for three months, until the end of the year. That removes about ₱3.36 per kilo of LPG, or almost ₱37 per tank, and ₱5.60 per liter of kerosene. The government expects to lose at least ₱700 million a month in revenue.
Diesel and gasoline are not covered. The Department of Finance said suspending their excise taxes would cost the government about ₱12 billion a month.
For bus operators, fuel is the biggest single expense. Several provincial operators said it now makes up 45% to 60% of their total operating costs.
Two transport groups are going ahead with work stoppages this week:
PISTON expects 70,000 to 100,000 jeepney drivers and operators to take part. Drivers in Cebu have also said they will join.
The groups want the government to remove the excise tax and value-added tax on fuel, including diesel and gasoline, which EO 125 left out. PISTON said its protests will continue until that happens.
In Metro Manila, these routes are expected to be hit hardest:
Tips for commuters: Leave earlier than usual and have a backup route. Check your local government's and your school's or employer's official pages for free-ride programs and any suspension of classes or work. Those announcements usually come out the night before or early in the morning of a strike day.
The government's main response to the energy crisis is UPLIFT, the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport. It was set up in March 2026 under Executive Order No. 110. In his State of the Nation Address in July, President Marcos said more than ₱60 billion had been set aside through the end of 2026 for programs that protect affected sectors from rising fuel and food costs.
The UPLIFT Committee is chaired by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. At its September 17–18 meeting he said, "The President's directive is clear: act promptly, anticipate the worsening of situation, and protect every Filipino." He added, "We should not wait for prices to reach their worst before the government responds."
As of mid-September, 5.79 million beneficiaries had received a total of ₱11.80 billion in cash aid. Another 2.59 million farmers and fishers had received ₱6.03 billion through the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program.
Here's what UPLIFT currently offers:
| Assistance | Who qualifies | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel discount at 3,633 partner stations | Jeepney and UV Express drivers | ₱12/L, raised from ₱10 in August — savings of up to ₱1,800 a week |
| AICS cash aid (DSWD) | Qualified public transport workers, including tricycle, TNVS, jeepney, delivery and motorcycle-taxi drivers | ₱5,000 |
| UPLIFT household aid (DSWD) | About 7.5 million poor, near-poor and low-income households | ₱2,000 a month, July to December 2026 |
| Same, for 4Ps and Walang Gutom beneficiaries | Households already receiving regular aid | ₱2,000, one time |
| MRT-3 and LRT-2 | All riders | 50% fare discount |
| Toll and terminal fees | Provincial buses | Toll exemptions; terminal fees waived until year-end |
The DOE says the country's fuel supply is secure for now. As of September 14, stocks were enough for 57.2 days of gasoline, 60.8 days of diesel and 39.3 days of LPG.
The government is also preparing another round of UPLIFT support, starting with farmers and fishers. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said it will include fuel assistance for rice harvesters and motorized fishing boats. The government is also considering bringing back toll waivers for trucks carrying farm products from Luzon provinces to Metro Manila.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the DOTr is "seriously studying" how to extend fuel subsidies beyond jeepneys and UV Express vans to other modes of public transport.
To check whether you qualify, look at the official UPLIFT website (uplift.gov.ph) or ask your local DSWD field office. Be careful with pages and group chats offering to "register" you for UPLIFT for a fee. The government doesn't charge anything to apply.
Three things will decide how the next few weeks go:
For now, commuters are paying the new fares and diesel is still well above where it started the month. Drivers and commuters are relying on UPLIFT aid to cover the difference.
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