Transportasyon.

In lieu of the continuous increase in fuel prices, Victory Liner Inc. has stopped its “Express” trips utilizing SCTEX–NLEX, which previously made my trip from Olongapo to Balintawak possible in around 2 hours and 40 minutes. Now, the alternative “Inner Cities” route, traversing San Fernando and provincial areas such as Lubao, Guagua, and Dinalupihan, can take around 4 hours.

For someone like me who values time and who doesn't mind paying a little more if it means getting home earlier I'm considering another option: taking a bus from Olongapo that passes through Dau, then transferring there to another bus going to my final destination, such as Cubao or Pasay. The same strategy can be used when traveling back: take a bus bound for Dau and transfer from there.

But I think this situation raises a bigger issue. It's no longer simply about whether bus fares should or should not increase. Commuters are already starting to feel the effects of the current situation.

We often hear that keeping fares low protects commuters. But we also have to ask:

What happens if keeping fares low makes it increasingly difficult for operators to sustain their operations?

If fewer buses are deployed, commuters could face longer waiting times, less frequent trips, and more crowded buses. The cost may not appear directly on our fare. Instead, we may pay for it through the hours we spend waiting and sitting in traffic, the additional fuel consumed, and the work, income, or opportunities we miss.

And traffic already carries an enormous economic cost. JICA studies have estimated congestion-related economic losses in Metro Manila at billions of pesos every day, including the value of travel time and vehicle operating costs.

So perhaps the question shouldn't simply be:

“Should we increase bus fares or not?”

The bigger question should be:

“How do we keep public transportation affordable for commuters while ensuring that operators can continue providing sufficient, reliable, and efficient service?”

Perhaps the government should consider a combination of solutions like targeted fuel assistance, temporary subsidies where appropriate, more efficient bus routes, better utilization of expressways, and a fare structure that reflects actual operating costs without placing the entire burden on commuters.

Because when public transportation becomes unsustainable, commuters don't necessarily escape the cost.

Sometimes, we pay for it with our time.

And in public transportation, time is also money.