3 transport groups file petition for P5 fare hike

Three transport organizations have formally lodged their petition seeking a P5 increase in the minimum fare of jeepneys amid the incessant oil price hikes.

In their petition, Pasang Masda, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) and Alliance of Transport Operators' & Drivers' Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) also asked for a P1 hike for every kilometer of travel after the four-kilometer trip.

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), meanwhile, reiterated its call for the suspension of oil excise tax.

In a "24 Oras" report by Ivan Mayrina and Marisol Abdurahman, the groups appealed for a provisional increase of P1 in the minimum fare while their petition is being heard.

“Para lamang matugunan ang problema ng ating mga driver, para tayong magtatawaran nyan, baka umabot tayo sa P2 increase,” Pasang Masda president Obet Martin said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is hearing a separate petition seeking for a P2 hike.  The petition was filed by the groups Stop and Go Coalition, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), PISTON and Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP).

The demand for increased fare comes after the consistent rise in the prices of diesel and gasoline, which were projected to keep spiking past the accumulated 13 pesos hike since July 18 due to the increased demand and decreased supply of petroleum worldwide.

“Ang projection po ng S&P Global Platts, diri-diretso po iyan [mula] July hanggang December. Tantsa po natin nito na magbago ay doon lang po sa pagbaba siguro ng demand,” said Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad in a public briefing.

According to the transport groups, drivers lose about P400 a day due to the fuel price hikes.

Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management said that the P3 billion fuel subsidy will be released once the Department of Transportation has issued a joint memorandum circular on its implementation.

“Sana po mailabas namin kaagad pag meron na po nung requirement per GAA (General Appropriations Act),” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News