The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Wednesday, March 9, that it has yet to decide on whether or not the petition of transport groups for an increase in minimum fare will be approved.
LTFRB Executive Director Kristina Cassion said the national government has already mapped out measures on how to assist the transport groups amid the series of oil price hikes.
“Meron pa naman po tayong basket of solutions na maibibigay sakanila, nandyan yung P2.5 billion fuel subsidy (We have a basket of solutions for them like the P2.5 billion fuel subsidy),” Cassion said at Laging Handa briefing.
She explained that the agency targets to distribute the fuel subsidy to over 377,000 beneficiaries once the Department of Budget and Management releases the fund this month.
“Within this month po ay ma-re-release na nila yung pondo makapag-distribute na agad ang LTFRB sa more than 377,000 beneficiaries covered yung PUVs, public utility buses (PUBs), express vans, taxis, Technology- and app-based transport network vehicle service (TNVS), tricycles, and delivery services (The DBM will release the funds by this month, and we will distribute to over 377,000 beneficiaries covering PUVs, PUBs, express vans, taxis, TNVS, tricycles, and delivery services),” Cassion said.
Aside from the fuel subsidy, Cassion said the agency will also offer a service contracting program in which the government will pay for the weekly expenses of drivers and operators for the conduct of libreng sakay for commuters.
In an earlier statement, LTFRB disclosed that transport groups 1-UTAK, Pasang Masda, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) presented their petitions to the board on March 8.
Petitioners 1-UTAK, Pasang Masda, ALTODAP, and ACTO asked for a P5 increase on the minimum fare and an increase of P1 for provincial PUVs. LTOP, on the other hand, requested an increase of P3 from the current minimum fare.
Cassion said the board would release its decision after another hearing on March 22.
“Naiinitindihan po natin ang sentimyento ng ating transport operators and drivers. Pero isinaalang alang din natin ang lahat ng aspeto dahil hindi lang naman po operators at drivers ang apektado sa kasulukuyang krisis at pandemiya (We understand the sentiments of the transport operators and drivers, but we are also considering all aspects since all sectors are affected by the current crisis and pandemic),” she said.