Be just to ‘plus-sized’ passengers, LTFRB urges PUV drivers, operators
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday reminded all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators that imposing “double fares” on passengers based on physical appearance, size, or weight is illegal.
In a statement, LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III said the board recently received several complaints alleging that overweight, or “plus-sized,” passengers were being charged fares exceeding the standard rate, a practice which the agency regards as both discriminatory and unlawful.
“Regardless of a passenger’s size, the fare covers one person. This practice of overcharging is not only unlawful—it is discriminatory and fundamentally unjust,” Guadiz said.
He added that public transportation “must be accessible and respectful to all.”
Civil, human rights violation
The LTFRB said any form of fare manipulation based on personal characteristics, including body size, is not only a violation of LTFRB regulations but also human rights principles.
Guadiz said that discrimination has no place in the country’s transport system, adding, “PUV drivers and operators found guilty of such practices will be held accountable and face appropriate sanctions.”
Violators may face penalties including fines, suspension of operations, or revocation of their franchises, in accordance with existing laws and LTFRB guidelines.
Guadiz urged passengers who experience or witness any form of overcharging or discrimination to immediately report incidents through the LTFRB hotline 1342 or through its official social media pages.
The LTFRB said the enforcement drive is part of the Marcos administration’s “broader push to build a fair, people-centered public transport system that upholds dignity, equality and respect for every Filipino.”
