SONA 2026: President Marcos says fuel subsidies, fare cuts ease oil crisis impact

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government rolled out fuel subsidies, fare discounts and fee reductions to cushion the impact of the international oil price crisis on Filipino commuters, drivers and the transport sector.

In his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, Marcos said the transport sector was among the hardest hit by the crisis, with drivers, operators, passengers, workers and businesses all affected by the sharp rise in petroleum product prices.

"Ngunit hindi natin kayang hayaang tumigil o maantala ito, dahil ito'y nagsisilbing piston ng ating ekonomiya (But we cannot allow it to stop or be delayed, because it serves as the piston of our economy)," Marcos said.

The President said drivers were assisted through cash relief under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, along with a PHP10-per-liter diesel subsidy for passenger jeepneys and UV Express units.

He added more than 1.8 million drivers received AICS assistance.

For passengers, Marcos cited the Libreng Sakay program, under which several government agencies deployed their own vehicles to provide free rides. At the same time, the Department of Agriculture used its vehicles to haul agricultural cargo to trading centers nationwide.

Marcos also cited the revived Service Contracting Program for public buses and jeepneys, under which qualified operators and drivers earn additional income for every kilometer they run in passenger service.

Under the program, passengers also get a 20 percent fare discount, on top of the standard 20 percent discount for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, for a combined 40 percent discount for priority passengers.

The President said the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Tuloy Pasada Program (Livelihood assistance for disadvantaged/displaced workers, continued fare program)” likewise gave additional income to public transport drivers.

On the other hand, riders of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) in Metro Manila continue to enjoy a 50 percent fare discount, along with special discounts on Sundays and major holidays.

Marcos said the government also temporarily lowered various fees at the country's airports and seaports, including terminal fees, landing and take-off fees, harbor fees, anchorage and berthing fees, and storage fees.

He cited Cebu Port, where terminal fees were waived, and airports nationwide, where passenger service charges were also reduced.

Marcos said the terminal fee at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which links Metro Manila to southern provinces, was suspended for three months for passenger vehicles, while expressway users were given toll fee discounts of up to nearly PHP200.

For cargo carried through Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vessels, Marcos said the terminal fee for agricultural products and food items was slashed from PHP500 to just PHP1, while trucks accredited by the Department of Agriculture were given free passage on expressways.

"Dahil sa lahat ng mga pinatupad na ito, milyong-milyong Pilipino ang kahit paano ay direktang nakaramdam ng tulong sa panahon ng mataas na presyo ng petrolyo (Because of all these measures implemented, millions of Filipinos, one way or another, directly felt the help during the time of high petroleum prices)," he added.

-Raymond Carl Dela Cruz/Philippine News Agency