LTFRB Updates, October 2026: Fare Increases, TNVS Show-Cause Orders and Motorcycle Taxi Accreditation

⏱ 11 min read

October 2026 opened with new public utility vehicle (PUV) fares already in force since September 28, a show-cause order against 19 ride-hailing companies that had not applied the approved TNVS fare increase, and the first accreditation decisions under the government’s motorcycle taxi framework. This roundup lists each development with its date, its source and a clear status label, so you can tell what is binding today and what is still pending.

We compiled these items from reputable Philippine news reports of LTFRB and DOTr statements, researched on October 26, 2026. Where reports disagree on a detail, such as a circular number, we leave the detail out rather than guess. This is a news summary, not legal advice; operators should confirm requirements directly with the LTFRB or a lawyer.

How to read the status labels in this roundup

Transport news in the Philippines moves in stages. A board approves something, an executive office suspends or lifts it, a circular is drafted, published and then enforced. Headlines rarely tell you which stage you are looking at, so we tag every item with one of five labels.

1. PUV fare increases: in force since September 28, 2026

The fare story this year had three turns. On March 17, 2026, Philstar reported that approved fare hikes would hit commuters across most transport modes, effective March 19. That same day, March 19, the President suspended the increases, as reported by Philstar. GMA News later reported in August that the fare hikes remained suspended.

The suspension was lifted on September 25, 2026 through a memo from DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez, according to Philstar, and the new fares took effect on September 28, 2026. Status: in force.

Minimum fares reported from September 28

Reports also said point-to-point (P2P) bus fares rise by 15%, and that operators must post the updated fare matrix in their vehicles. Reports on airport taxi fares gave conflicting figures, so we have left them out.

TNVS base fares

Ride-hailing fares moved too. According to the Daily Tribune, TNVS base fares from September 28 are ₱55 for hatchbacks (from ₱35), ₱65 for sedans (from ₱45), ₱75 for AUVs (from ₱55) and ₱165 for premium units (from ₱145). Philstar described the adjustment as roughly 20%, so treat the Tribune figures as that outlet’s reporting and confirm the official fare matrix before you hard-code anything.

2. Show-cause orders against 19 TNCs

On October 1, 2026, the Daily Tribune reported that the LTFRB summoned 19 ride-hailing firms for not implementing the September 28 fare increase. A hearing was set for October 7, 2026. Status: pending. Our research did not find a reported outcome, so we cannot say whether any penalty followed.

This is not the first enforcement action of the year. Two earlier items give context:

• Suspension of three TNCs (February 27, 2026, in force when reported). The LTFRB suspended Leggo IT Solutions, Get Express Global and Ipara Technology Solutions for 12 months over non-compliance, ignored show-cause orders and having no active platform, according to the Daily Tribune.
• TNVS onboarding probe (May 6, 2026, pending). DZRH reported show-cause orders over alleged onboarding “fees” of ₱25,000 to ₱90,000 and roughly 230,000 questionable entries, with hearings on May 14 and 15. We found no reported final ruling.

3. Motorcycle taxi accreditation: open, but not to newcomers

Motorcycle taxis still operate under a pilot framework. According to reports, DOTr Department Order 2026-006, issued in March 2026, keeps the technical working group and pilot framework in place until Congress passes a law. The House of Representatives has called a motorcycle taxi law a priority, Newsbytes reported on April 16, 2026. Status of the law: pending.

The rules riders and platforms must follow

LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2026-048, reported by Motopinas on July 7, 2026, sets operating rules under the pilot framework. Status: in force (pilot framework). Among them:

• Motorcycles of at least 100cc, or electric motorcycles of at least 1.5 kW.
• A 60 km/h speed limit while carrying a passenger.
• One rider per unit, with no relievers.
• App booking only; no street hailing.
• Helmets for rider and passenger.
• Discounts under RA 10699 apply.

Accreditation window and the October 12 decision

On July 30, 2026, GMA News reported that the LTFRB would open motorcycle taxi platform provider accreditation on August 5, 2026, and that there would be “no new players”. Then, on October 12, 2026, GMA News reported that the board rejected the accreditation bids of GrabBike and Dingdong RiderKo because they failed to prove continued operation under the pilot.

For motorcycle taxis in 2026, the question is not whether you can build the app. It is whether you were already part of the pilot.

4. Circulars from earlier in 2026 that are already in force

October’s headlines sit on top of several circulars issued earlier in the year. If you run or build for a TNVS or PUV operation, these shape daily work.

• TNVS franchises become ATOCs (MC 2026-049, advisory July 14, 2026, in force). Valid TNVS certificates of public convenience (CPCs) are automatically converted to Authority to Operate Certificates, with no renewal filing needed, and validity is extended to five years. Electric vehicles are covered; expired, revoked or suspended CPCs are not, according to the Inquirer.
• Simpler PUV franchise renewals (MC 2026-035 and MC 2026-038, May 21, 2026, in force). Newspaper notices of hearing were removed, and compliant renewals no longer need a hearing. Operators must keep a valid email address, which serves as the official channel, as reported by AutoIndustriya.
• Fixed TNVS pick-up fare made permanent (announced July 19, 2026). Pick-up fares range from ₱24 to ₱120 for hatchbacks up to ₱58 to ₱289 for premium units, scaled by distance up to 5 km, with a 5 km maximum matching radius. The pick-up fare goes 100% to the driver with no commission and must be shown separately before booking and on the receipt, according to GMA News. Reports cite different circular numbers, so we do not name one.
• Taxi booking fee cap (MC 2026-055, July 18, 2026, in force). App-booked taxi booking fees are capped at the lower of 20% of the fare or ₱60, must be disclosed before booking and itemised on the receipt. This applies to taxis, not TNVS, according to Philstar.
• Cancellations treated as refusal to convey (MC 2025-055, December 12, 2025, in force). Penalties of ₱5,000, ₱10,000 and ₱15,000 escalate up to CPC cancellation, and TNCs must report cancellations monthly, as reported by Top Gear Philippines.

5. Still pending or proposed

These items are worth watching but are not final as of our research date:

1. Vlogging and livestreaming ban for PUV drivers (MC 2026-050). Reported on July 6, 2026 as being finalised, with a ₱5,000 fine and possible revocation. Status: pending.
2. Denying renewal to dilapidated PUVs. A draft reported by ABS-CBN on January 23, 2026. Status: proposed.
3. Motorcycle taxi law. Prioritised by the House in April 2026. Status: pending in Congress.
4. PISTON’s Supreme Court challenge to jeepney consolidation. On June 29, 2026, PISTON asked the Court to continue hearing the case; no ruling or TRO had been reported. Status: pending. Our PUV modernization update covers this in more detail.

One historical item for context: the December 2025 holiday surge cap (MC 2025-056) limited TNVS surge to 1x with no commission on surge from December 17, 2025 to January 4, 2026. It has ended, but it shows the board is willing to regulate surge during peak seasons.

What this means, by audience

The section below is ServicioPro’s analysis, not an official position.

Commuters

Expect the new minimum fares on jeepneys and city buses and check the posted fare matrix if a charge looks wrong. For TNVS, the pick-up fare should appear as its own line before you confirm a booking. If it does not, that is worth reporting.

PUV and TNVS operators

• Confirm that your fare matrix is updated and posted.
• Make sure the email address on file with the LTFRB is valid, since it is now the official channel for renewals.
• If you hold a TNVS CPC, check that it was valid at conversion so it qualifies as an ATOC.
• Keep cancellation behaviour in check; it can now be penalised as refusal to convey.

Platform owners and app developers

Treat fare logic as configuration, not code. Fare tables, pick-up fare bands, booking fee caps and receipt line items should be editable from an admin panel with an effective date, so a new fare matrix can go live on time without a store release. Build cancellation reporting that can produce the monthly summary TNCs must submit. Our guide to TNVS rules in 2026 walks through each requirement, and how ride-hailing apps work explains where those rules live in the system.

If you are planning a new ride service, read our ride-hailing MVP rollout guide alongside these updates, and remember that the motorcycle taxi segment is currently closed to new platforms.