Fare hike suspension: Relief or risk?

President Marcos' decision to suspend the fare hikes in public utility vehicles (PUV) sounds good.

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It offers immediate relief to millions of commuters already strained by rising fuel and food costs brought about by the Middle East conflict. It is a politically and socially appealing move, especially in a time of global uncertainty.Yet beneath this well-intentioned directive lies a deeper, more fragile reality. Public utility vehicle (PUV) operators, long operating on razor-thin margins, may find themselves pushed to the brink with this decision. When that happens, the very commuters the policy seeks to protect could end up stranded.

Why? Public transport is not a charity; it is a livelihood. Operators and drivers absorb the same oil shocks and inflationary pressures as everyone else—often more acutely. Fuel, maintenance, boundary fees, and financing costs do not pause simply because fare increases are frozen. If revenues fail to keep pace with these costs, operators may reduce trips, shorten routes, or at worst halt operations altogether. The result would have dire consequences. There would be fewer vehicles on the road, longer waiting times, and ultimately, a breakdown in mobility. A fare hike suspension that leads to transport scarcity defeats its purpose.