Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on March 18 ordered the suspension of planned increases in public transport fares, just a day after they were announced, citing mounting pressure on citizens from rising fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement on March 18, he said it was “not the right time” to raise fares as many Filipinos are already struggling with higher living costs. He directed the Department of Transportation to postpone the fare adjustments and roll out support measures to ease the burden on commuters.
Earlier, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board had approved fare hikes for most public transport modes, including jeepneys – a widely used form of transport across the country, with increases averaging around 8% and scheduled to take effect on March 19.
The Philippines, which imports nearly all of its crude oil from the Middle East, has been grappling with soaring fuel prices amid the escalating geopolitical tensions.
The country has implemented a four-day work week for civil servants and provided cash subsidies for tricycle drivers. Meanwhile, its only oil refinery has been negotiating to purchase oil from Russia./.
