Transport groups have been seeking for a total of P3 provisional increase in the minimum fare of passenger jeepneys nationwide amid the continuous rise of the price of oil products, the recent was on Tuesday, June 28, with P1.65 increase per liter.
The P3 provisional increase includes the P1 hike in the minimum fare that was granted by the
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the passenger jeepneys operating in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Region IV, for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal Quezon) and Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).
In the petition filed before the LTFRB by five transport groups, they seek to implement nationwide the P1 provisional increase granted by the LTFRB on June 8 for Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Central Luzon, in addition to the P2 provisional increase for all pubkic utility jeepney (PUJs) across the country.
The petition was jointly filed by 1UTAK, Pasang-Mada, ALTODAP and ACTO.
In the petition, the transport groups stated that following the line of argument that prompted the LTFRB to increase the minimum fare at P10 in October 2018 when the price of diesel per liter was only at P48.90, it is logical to approve their request since the price of diesel per liter is currently at more than P80 in most parts and even higher in other areas.
“And with the implementation of wage hikes nationwide for the benefit of ordinary workers, it is only fitting for PUJ operators to be treated with equal measure of justice and solicitude and be granted the desperately needed additional minimum fare increase in order to give PUJ drivers and workers a fighting chance to earn a decent income higher than at least the minimum wage,” the petition read.
A number of transport operators and drivers have been reportedly forced to stop hitting the road, arguing that they spend much of their income to pay for the fuel cost.
This resulted in thousands of commuters being stranded especially during rush hours due to lack of passenger vehicles.