Commuters wait for available rides at Philcoa, Quezon City, on March 27, 2026, during the second day of a transport strike. Led by groups under the "No to Oil Price Hike Coalition," the protest aims to decry rising fuel prices and urge the government to ease taxes on petroleum products. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) recognized the rights of transport groups holding transport strike on Monday, September 25 but hopes it will not greatly inconvenience commuters.
“Karapatan naman po ng bawat Pilipino na maglabas ng kanilang hinaing po and it is provided under the Constitution and sacred rights naman po nila ‘yan,” LTFRB Acting Chairman Atty. Greg Pua Jr. told state-run media PTV in a television interview Monday.
"Ang paalala lang naman po namin is ‘wag na lang po sanang maapektuhan ang ating mga mananakay po,” he added.
Transport group Manibela and various groups held protests in Quezon City early Monday, saying that the granted one-peso hike, which was initially filed when crude prices ranged from P45 to P50 back in March, is no longer sufficient amid soaring prices of fuel and goods.
“Sana mapakinggan tayo. Yung dalawang piso na hiling natin, yung piso kasi na binigay ngayon, nung Marso pa yan kung saan, nasa P45 to P50 pa ang krudo nung mga panahon na yan. Kaya sana madagdagan pa ito ng piso,” Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said.
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While the LTFRB has a memorandum circular on terms and conditions for PUV franchises stating PUV operators "shall not resort to cessation of service as a sign or demonstration of protests against any government decision or action," Pua clarified that the Board does not issue outright penalties.
“On the part of LTFRB, kung meron man po kaming makita na violation po, hindi po kami nag-i-issue ng ticket, hindi rin po kami nag-i-impound, hindi rin po kami agarang nag-i-impose ng penalty. Ang ini-issue po namin ay show cause order kung saan ang atin pong PUV driver o operator ay pwede pong makapagpaliwanag,” the LTFRB official said.
“Bago po kami maglabas ng desisyon ay tinitingnan po namin ang ebidensya na isinumite po ng ating mga parties,” he added.
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