Transport group pushes for provisional P15 jeepney fare hike to address rising fuel prices

A transport group said Saturday it will continue to push for a provisional fare increase to address rising fuel prices.

In an interview Saturday on Super Radyo dzBB with Weng Salvacion and Weng dela Peña, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) chairperson Liberty de Luna said her group would be satisfied with a P2 provisional fare increase for public utility vehicles.

“Kahit piso [na dagdag-pasahe], masaya na kami... Pwede hanggang two pesos... 'Yung mga traditional jeepney, magiging 15 pesos [ang minimum fare]. 'Yung mga modern jeep, magiging 17 pesos,” she said.

(Even with a peso we would be happy. Maybe two pesos. Traditional jeepneys would have a minimum fare of 15 pesos and modern jeeps, 17 pesos.)

With current fare rates, De Luna said the daily income of a jeepney driver could be as low as P150. 

“Kaya provisional [na dagdag-pasahe], para just in case bumaba ang presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo, automatic, bababa kami… Kapag bumalik sa 40/litro ng diesel, dun aalisin ang provisional increase sa pamasahe,” she said.

(That is why it's a provisional fare hike, just in case the prices of petroleum products fall, automatic we will lower our fares... When diesel prices return to P40 per liter, that is when we will remove the provisional increase in fares.)

The ACTO head said two years ago they were able to get a provisional fare increase of one peso from the P5 hike they filed.

“Ngayon, dahil taas nang taas [ang presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo]... medyo hirap na ang driver at operators [kaya] kailangan talagang humingi ng dagdag na provisional na 2 pesos para sa dagdag na pamasahe,” she pointed out. 

(Now, since the prices of petroleum products keep on increasing... it has become for driver and operator so it's become necessary to ask for a provisional fare increase of two pesos.) —RF, GMA Integrated News