4 transport groups seek P1 jeepney fare hike

Don’t hold your breath for cleaner air, as the DENR has been a laggard in adopting cleaner fuel standards. A 10-fold cut in sulfur emissions has been pushed back to 2016. INQUIRER file photo

Four transport groups have called on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to immediately act on their petition seeking a provisional fare increase in the minimum jeepney fare.

In an urgent motion filed in the LTFRB on Tuesday, the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto) urged the government to raise the minimum fare for passenger jeepneys from P7 to P8, noting that fuel prices have increased by P8 since the start of the year.

Joining Acto in its petition were the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas.

The groups said they were seeking the fare hike to allow jeepney operators and drivers “an opportunity to earn and uplift their livelihood.”

According to them, when they asked the LTFRB in May to roll back the minimum jeepney fare  to P7.50, diesel was priced at P20 per liter while fuel price increases totaled just P6 since January.

They pointed out that since diesel prices were expected to go up to P28 per liter with the recent announcement by oil companies of a P1.40 hike, it was only “proper” that the minimum jeepney fare be pegged at P8. The additional P1, they said, was just “enough to cover fuel costs.”

Elvira Medina, National Center for Commuters Safety and Protection president, has expressed support for the fare hike to help out  drivers. –Jovic Yee