Transport group hints at asking for further increase in jeepney fares  

A transport group on Saturday hinted at pushing for yet another fare increase for jeepneys due to the anticipated sharp rise in oil prices.
 
An oil industry source has said that the price per liter of diesel may increase by P6 to P6.30 next week.

Gasoline prices, meanwhile, may go up by P1.10 to P1.40 per liter.

Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad earlier cited the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) Plus coalition to cut oil production by 2 million barrels in support of declining oil prices due to the US’ aggressive interest rate hikes as the major factor for the expected price increases.
 
‘Yung ini-rollback namin noon tatlong sunud-sunod; una P2, P1.50, tapos ‘yung huli, 45 centavos, almost P4' yan pagkatapos ngayon, mahigit P5 ang price increase?” said Pasang Masda national president Obet Martin in Bernadette Reyes’ report on “24 Oras Weekend.”
 
However, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had already said it would no longer approve any fare increases until the end of the year.

Martin recommended distributing additional fuel subsidies if a fare hike wasn't possible.

“Kung mabibigyan kami ng gobyerno pa ng another fuel subsidy, eh palagay ko there is no need for us to file this formal petition for fare increase,” he said.

On Monday, commuters began paying more for transport services after the LTFRB approved a P1 provisional increase in the minimum fare for the first four kilometers of travel for public utility jeepneys (PUJs), bringing the minimum fare for traditional PUJs to P12 and the modern PUJs to P14.
 
It also approved an additional fare per succeeding kilometer, up by P0.30 for traditional PUJs to P1.80 and by P0.40 for modern PUJs to P2.20.
 
The LTFRB also increased the minimum fares for buses, taxis, and transport network vehicle services. —Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA News