The United Transportation Coalition Philippines, Inc. (UTCPI) raised concern over recent fuel price adjustments that appear to have been implemented ahead of actual cost movements, warning that such premature increases place an immediate and disproportionate burden on public transport drivers and small operators.

While the oil industry operates under the deregulated framework established by Republic Act No. 8479, UTCPI emphasized that deregulation does not allow oil companies to impose price increases detached from the cost of their existing supply.

UTCPI President Lisza Buscaino-Redulla explained that fuel companies typically maintain inventories purchased at earlier prices. When retail prices are increased even before higher-cost supply reaches the market, the result is a premature adjustment that consumers are forced to absorb immediately.

“Public transport drivers feel the impact first and the hardest,” Buscaino-Redulla said. “Every increase in diesel or gasoline directly reduces their daily earnings. For drivers who rely on their day-to-day income to support their families, even small price adjustments can significantly affect their ability to take home enough for basic needs.”

The Coalition stressed that the Department of Energy must ensure strict monitoring and transparency in fuel pricing practices, including verification of inventory levels and acquisition costs.

“Fuel pricing should not be driven purely by speculation or anticipation of global market movements,” Buscaino-Redulla added. “Price adjustments must be grounded in actual cost movements and implemented in a way that does not unfairly burden those who rely on fuel to earn their daily livelihood.”

At the same time, UTCPI confirmed that it has formally filed a Petition for Fare Increase for Motorcycle Taxi Operators before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, citing rising operational costs and the outdated fare structure currently imposed on motorcycle taxi riders.

The petition was filed on 12 March 2026 and is represented by Romeo G. Maglunsod, one of the members of the Board of Trustees of UTCPI, and Atty. John Paul P. Nabua, UTCPI’s corporate secretary. The organization noted that the current fare matrix for motorcycle taxis was established during the early stages of the Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Program in 2019 and has remained unchanged despite significant increases in fuel prices, inflation, maintenance expenses, and other operational costs.

UTCPI explained that under the existing structure, riders operating up to ten hours per day often earn between ₱1,700 and ₱2,200 in gross daily income, but after deducting platform commissions, fuel expenses, vehicle amortization, maintenance costs, food allowances, and mobile data requirements, their net take-home income may fall to as low as ₱160 to ₱660 per day.

According to the Coalition, the current fare structure leaves little room for riders to maintain sustainable livelihoods despite the risks and long hours associated with motorcycle taxi operations in heavily congested urban areas.

“Motorcycle taxis have become an essential part of the country’s transport network, providing crucial first-mile and last-mile connectivity for thousands of commuters every day,” Buscaino-Redulla said. “Yet the riders who provide this service continue to operate under an outdated fare matrix that no longer reflects present economic realities.”

UTCPI emphasized that under Executive Order No. 202, the LTFRB has the authority to determine and periodically adjust reasonable fares for public land transportation services to ensure the continued viability and sustainability of transport operations.

The Coalition therefore urged regulators to consider both the welfare of drivers and the needs of commuters in evaluating fare adjustments.

“At the end of the day, every peso increase in fuel means less income for drivers,” Buscaino-Redulla said. “Drivers and commuters should not be treated as the shock absorbers of oil price volatility. Fair fuel pricing and sustainable fare structures are both necessary to protect the transport sector and ensure reliable mobility for the public.”

UTCPI reiterated its readiness to work with the Department of Transportation, other government agencies and policymakers to pursue reforms that promote transparency, sustainability, and fairness across the Philippine transportation system.