ByaHero’s perspective on today’s LTFRB fare increase
Today, September 28, 2026, the new LTFRB-approved public transport fares take effect.
For traditional jeepneys, the minimum fare increased from ₱13 to ₱14 for the first 4 kilometers, while the succeeding-kilometer rate increased from ₱1.80 to ₱2.
For modern jeepneys, the minimum fare increased from ₱15 to ₱17, with the succeeding-kilometer rate increasing from ₱2.20 to ₱2.40.
For drivers and operators, this increase matters.
Running a jeepney is not getting cheaper.
Fuel prices have risen sharply. In September alone, diesel prices increased by ₱18.31 per liter over three weeks, according to reports citing Department of Energy data. Spare parts, maintenance, tires, repairs, and other operating expenses also continue to put pressure on transport operators.
So yes, a fare adjustment can provide additional income and help operators keep their units running.
But it raises an important question:
Is increasing the fare enough?
That is where the conversation becomes bigger than the fare itself.
A jeepney driver does not earn simply because a jeepney is on the road.
The vehicle needs fuel.
It needs maintenance.
It needs spare parts.
It needs tires.
It needs repairs.
And most importantly, it needs passengers.
A jeepney can be moving all day and still experience periods where the vehicle is underutilized, running with fewer passengers, or spending valuable fuel and time without enough revenue.
This means the challenge is not only:
"How much should the passenger pay?"
The bigger question is:
"How can we help every trip become more efficient?"
We cannot control the price of fuel. But we can improve how transportation operates.
This is one of the reasons I created ByaHero.
ByaHero is not designed to replace fare adjustments, fuel assistance, government programs, or the work of drivers and transport cooperatives.
It is designed to address another part of the problem:
operational visibility.
Today, many transport decisions still depend heavily on experience, observation, and assumptions.
Where are the jeepneys?
Which units are currently operating?
Which areas are being served?
Which routes have vehicles available?
When are certain areas experiencing higher passenger activity?
Where are vehicles spending too much time?
These are questions that become much easier to address when operators have access to real-time transportation data.
From "How much can we charge?" to "How efficiently can we operate?"
This is where transport intelligence becomes important.
With ByaHero, commuters can see live jeepneys on the map, helping them understand which rides are coming and where vehicles are located.
For transport cooperatives and operators, ByaHero is designed to provide a broader operational view of their fleet and help them understand how their vehicles and routes are moving.
The goal is simple:
The right unit.
The right route.
The right place.
The right time.
Because every kilometer matters.
Every liter of fuel matters.
Every passenger matters.
And every unnecessary trip represents a cost.
A fare increase can help. Efficiency can help too.
The current fare adjustment was approved in response to the pressure facing public transport operators from rising operating costs. Government officials have also discussed assistance and other measures intended to support the transport sector while considering the impact on commuters.
But the transportation problem cannot be solved by looking at the fare alone.
If operating costs continue increasing, continuously raising fares can also place additional pressure on commuters.
That creates a difficult balance:
Drivers and operators need sustainable income.
Commuters need affordable transportation.
Transport cooperatives need sustainable operations.
Technology cannot magically make fuel cheaper.
It cannot eliminate every repair.
And ByaHero cannot solve every problem in public transportation.
But technology can help operators see more, understand more, and make better operational decisions.
And sometimes, reducing unnecessary costs can be just as important as increasing revenue.
This is why ByaHero matters now.
The transportation industry is facing a changing environment.
Fuel prices are moving.
Operating expenses are increasing.
Commuters are feeling the impact.
Drivers and operators are trying to keep their livelihoods sustainable.
And cities need public transportation that can continue moving people efficiently.
We believe the answer should not be technology instead of drivers and operators.
It should be technology for drivers and operators.
Technology that gives transport cooperatives better visibility.
Technology that helps them understand their fleet.
Technology that gives commuters better information about available rides.
Technology that turns transportation movement into useful information.
That is what ByaHero is building.
Not just another commuting app.
A Transport Intelligence Platform.
Because the future of public transportation should not only be about increasing the fare.
It should also be about making every trip smarter, more visible, and more efficient.
Smarter rides. Stronger Communities.
— ByaHero
