Board Member Isagani M. Victorio

18/09/2026

16/09/2026

𝐋𝐓𝐅𝐑𝐁 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐔𝐕 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝

In line with the instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to look after the welfare of those in the public transportation sector amid the security situation in the Middle East, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), under the guidance of DOTr Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Z. Lopez, has issued the first batch of monthly financial assistance to modern public utility vehicle (PUV) operators.

Acting LTFRB Chairman Atty. Greg G. Pua, Jr. said 16 cheques amounting to P9,080,000.00 were already prepared and were distributed to 16 Transport Service Entities (TSEs) in various parts of the country.

“This is just the first batch of the release of the financial assistance from the national government. There will be more in the coming days for the operators of modern PUVs who are either having difficulty paying the loan for their unit, or making ends meet due to rising operational costs,” said Acting Chairman Pua.

Aside from the release of the cheques, Acting Chairman Pua said they will also be depositing the financial assistance to the accounts provided by the TSEs.

The assistance package was based on the approval of President Marcos after meeting with Secretary Banoy amid concerns raised by the modern PUV sector about the rising operational costs that make it difficult for them to pay the loans for their modern PUV units.

Based on the guidelines released by the LTFRB, registered and accredited TSEs will be provided a fixed amount of P20,000 for monthly amortization payments to settle existing loans for each modern PUV unit that had been acquired from the beginning of the program until the effectivity of the order.

These operators were the ones who complied with the Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP) aimed at further improving and professionalizing the public transportation in the country.

Acting Chairman Pua said those who already paid their units can still avail of the P20,000 financial assistance by using the fund for operational expenses.

The LTFRB is in charge of the processing of the applications and Acting Chairman Pua said there was already an existing order to facilitate and speed up the process in order to provide the assistance to the qualified beneficiaries in the soonest possible time.

The monthly financial assistance for TSEs will begin this September and will run for three months or until the funds intended for the aid have been fully utilized.

This was approved after the continuous uncertainty of the security situation in the Middle East which has been affecting the supply of the petroleum products and eventually resulting in higher prices.

Acting Chairman Pua said this latest program is proof of the sensitivity and genuine concern of the PBBM administration to the welfare and interest of the public transportation sector.

He said the objectives are to prevent asset foreclosure and credit default by providing direct cash flow support to meet monthly debt service obligations; and, ensure operational continuity of their operations in the interest of the commuters.

The support system covers modern jeepneys and UV Express nationwide and modern buses operating in Metro Manila.

Aside from this program, there is also an existing P12 per liter discount to passenger jeepney and UV Express operators across the country. Early this year, President Marcos also approved the P5,000 cash subsidy to PUV operators. # # #

03/08/2026

𝐋𝐓𝐅𝐑𝐁 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐋𝐓𝐅𝐑𝐁 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯, 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), under the guidance of DOTr Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Z. Lopez, will invite representatives from concerned government agencies in the next hearing of the ongoing discussions on fare increase petitions by various transport groups.

Among the government agencies that will be invited, according to LTFRB Chairman Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, are the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Energy (DOE).

“We all heard the concerns and arguments raised by the transport groups on their fare hike petitions. They are all valid and legitimate and our task now is to validate the data they presented in terms of operational costs vis-à-vis their daily income and that of the drivers,” said Chairman Vigor.

“But we also need to hear what the DEPDev and other agencies concerned have to say because we are all aware that any fare adjustment of any amount will have effects on the economy and the public’s purchasing power,” he added.

For the DEPDEv, Chairman Vigor said they want to hear the effects of any amount that will be proposed based on the petitions of the transport groups while DOLE is expected to discuss what should be accorded and due to the workers, in this case, the drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The DOE, for its part, will discuss matters pertaining to the oil price hikes and its effects on motorists.

Chairman Vigor explained that they need to factor in the wisdom and expertise of the concerned agencies in the goal of coming up with the best solution that is acceptable to the PUV sector and the commuting public.

“The necessity to assist the PUV sector is already there because of the series of oil price hikes in the past weeks. The question, however, is that if fare adjustments are approved, what would be the ideal amount that would have the most minimal inflationary effects but are acceptable to everybody,” said Chairman Vigor.

“This is the part where the insights of experts from DEPDev and other concerned agencies will play a key role,” he stressed.

On Monday, August 3, Chairman Vigor led the fare hike hearing that was attended by various transport groups, particularly the representatives of seven petitioners for fare increase.

Chairman Vigor expressed gratitude to the transport groups and other attendees for their time and efforts in presenting their argument to a proper forum, the LTFRB. #

10/06/2026