On Wednesday night, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory came out with the decision of approving the additional P1 fare to public utility jeepneys plying in Metro Manila and Regions 3 and 4.

While the Board has yet to release the official order before the fare hike can be implemented, the move gathered different reactions from jeepney drivers, riders, and consumers group.

Pangkalahatang Sangguniang Manila and Suburb Drivers Assoc. Nationwide Inc. (PASANGMASDA) leader Obet Martin said they appreciate the decision of the Board on the approval of the provisional fare increase.

While they welcomed the government's move, Martin said they will still proceed with their formal petition of the additional P2.

Martin was among the five transport group leaders who filed a petition to the LTFRB to increase its minimum fare of P8 to P10 last September 2017.

The groups cited higher fuel and spare parts prices which "adversely affect" the income of the drivers and operators.

According to Martin, the P1 fare increase is still a big help to the drivers.

"Kung makakapagsakay ng 350 passengers ang driver, may dagdag na P350 na kita na ang mga drivers. Malaking amount na rin para makatulong sa drivers kaysa sa wala," Martin said in a phone interview.

The additional minimum fare was also welcomed by some students, adding that the hike was reasonable due to the tax reform program.

For Renalene Nerval, a third year Literature and Accountancy student in De La Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila, the P1 increase was reasonable.

"The increase was okay for me because it is not that burdensome. It is also needed to compensate the TRAIN law. It is okay for the fare to increase but gradual," Nerval said.

Meanwhile, Jasper Valdez, who frequently rides jeepney when travelling to find work from his home in Quezon City to Manila and Makati City said otherwise.

"Para saming mga naghahanap ng trabaho, kahit na sabihin ng iba na kakaunti o maliit na halaga lang ang itataas ng pamasahe sa mga jeepney, malaki pa rin ang magiging epekto nito dahil sa sunud-sunod na pagtaas ng bilihin lalo na at wala pa kaming stable na pinagkukuhanan ng kita (For us jobseekers, even though others would say that the fare increase is only minimal, this would still affect us greatly because of the continuous increases on prices of commodities, especially now that we do not have jobs to support our needs)," he said.

Valdez shared that for him, the P1 increase is still a big deal as he is travelling everyday when applying for work or attending job interviews.

"Hindi naman magbabago ang serbisyo ng mga PUJs, dapat kung talagang magtatas ng pasahe ay may mga kaakibat na pagbabago para protektahan ang mga commuters," Valdez explained.

For Antonio Simangan, or Mang Jun, a jeepney driver for at least 27 years, the P1 increase is not what they needed.

Mang Jun said he is not happy with the increase and what the drivers want is a lower fuel price.

This was what also RJ Javellana, president of the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters said.

Javellana said that the government should target the very cause of the problem in the transportation sector which is the fuel price increases due to the new tax reform law.

He urged transport groups to unite with the consumer and commuters in calling out the government to rather suspend the excise tax on petroleum products.

"Kahit walang taas-presyo sa pasahe, kung matatanggal ang excise tax sa mga bilihin sa petrolyo, malaking bagay po ito," Javellana said.

The consumer's group head explained they understand the need of the PUV drivers because of the hike on fuel products and spare parts, but the problem is being passed to the passengers who are not covered with subsidy on transport services.

Once the signed order was released, the LTFRB said that the P1 increase should be implemented immediately.