President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. held a speech of his 4th State of the Nation Address, 2025. (Wikimedia)
On April 9, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that the government will implement a nationwide transportation programme that includes subsidised fares and fuel discounts. The scheme will be implemented on April 15 in order to prevent the pressure caused by surging oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.
The decision was made amid the country’s increasing inflation in March, which spiked to 4.1% from 2% last February. According to the Central Bank of Philippines, a significant increase and constant high oil price will alarm the spillover effects with the possibilities of widened prices pressures. Moreover, the Central Bank of Philippines also stated that the inflation risks have shifted markedly upward as the Middle East conflict continues to raise costs.
President Marcos affirmed that the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) committee—formed after the energy crisis declaration to ease its impact— convened to review the current situation in the Middle East and prevent the impact to the country, particularly at the significant increase in fuel prices. Under the scheme, the government will grant commuters a fare reduction of at least 20% and the routes will be arranged to connect with train lines and major bus corridors to provide faster, more efficient and reliable transport services. The president said the programme will be rolled out nationwide, covering roughly 50,000 public utility vehicles, around 1,000 operators and benefiting up to 15 million commuters.
Moreover, the Service Contracting Programme will run during off-peak hours to ensure transport remains available even outside rush periods. Vehicles participating in the scheme will be fitted with GPS monitoring to confirm that trips are completed and services operate properly. The initiative, he said, is intended to keep transport services running while supporting drivers’ livelihoods. The president also announced a fuel subsidy of 10 Philippine peso (0.17 US dollar) per litre for public utility vehicles, capped at 150 litres per vehicle each week for a three-month period. In addition, the fuel subsidy will only be available at authorised gasoline stations approved and monitored by the Department of Energy to prevent misuse and ensure that the assistance reaches legitimate beneficiaries. The measures aimed at maintaining stability in the daily lives of Filipinos, stressing that the central goal of these policies is to protect the public while the country continues to face ongoing challenges.
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