Transport Group Won’t Back Down on Fare Hike Petition
Leaders of transport groups remain adamant about petitioning for a P2
increase in the minimum jeepney fare despite the rollback in diesel prices.
News reports quoted them as saying the recent rollback of diesel prices by
20 cents per liter is not enough to make them change their minds about
asking for a fare increase.
Jeepney drivers have claimed they lost an average of 130 pesos in earnings
per day when diesel prices were last increased by 2.70 pesos per liter.
Transport leaders, including Pasang Masda president Roberto Martin and Liga
ng Transportasyon at mga Operator sa Pilipinas (LTOP) president Lando
Marquez, say they are not about to reconsider their plan to revive a fare
increase petition initially filed in 2022.
They said this ahead of a meeting with Teofilo Guadiz, the chairman of the
LTFRB, to discuss a request for a provisional fare increase.
There is no doubt jeepney drivers and operators are struggling amid rising
fuel and other operational costs. But government authorities are also in
the right when saying that they must also consider the impact of fare
increases on commuters who are also struggling to cope with the rising cost
of living.