Manila: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will consult the Marcos administration's economic managers regarding the proposed PHP1 provisional fare hike, Secretary Vince Dizon said Thursday, amid rising clamor from transport groups reeling from big-time fuel price hikes. Dizon emphasized the importance of balancing the concerns of public utility drivers and operators with the need to protect commuters from additional financial burden.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dizon mentioned in a Palace briefing that the government is carefully considering the impact of any fare hike on commuters. He stated, 'Pag-uusapan po natin iyan, 'no? Kasi alam ninyo naman na kailangan natin balansehin din iyong epekto ng pagtaas ng pasahe sa ating mga commuters, sa ating mga kababayan (We will have to discuss that, because we need to balance the impact of any fare hike on our commuters and fellow citizens).' This indicates the government's commitment to studying and balancing the effects of the proposed fare hike.

Transport groups, including Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, have been lobbying for a fare hike due to rising oil prices. The Department of Energy attributed the increase in oil prices to the conflict between Israel and Iran.

To mitigate the effects of rising fuel prices, the government is preparing to roll out a PHP2.5-billion fuel subsidy program. This program aims to support drivers of jeepneys, buses, taxis, ride-hailing services, and delivery vehicles. Dizon noted that a total of 1,132,407 drivers are expected to benefit from this initiative. This includes 258,712 public utility vehicle drivers, 723,695 tricycle drivers, and 150,000 delivery riders.