Transport groups ask LTFRB for fare hike amid soaring fuel prices
By Jel Santos

Amid skyrocketing prices of petroleum products in the country, several transport groups have filed a petition asking the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to increase fares of public utility vehicles (PUVs) nationwide.
The groups appealing for the fare increase were Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas; Pagkakaisa ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide; Stop & Go Transport Coalition Incorporated; and The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines.
They are asking for a P2 fare hike “for the first four kilometers” of trip.
In their petition to LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, they cited the tremendous increase in the prices of vehicle parts, throttle body alignment or TBA, and petroleum products.
“Apparently, prices of parts, and TBAs needed to ensure safe and comfortable transport services have tremendously increased. Likewise, fuel, i.e. diesel etc. is becoming uncontrollable in surge of prices every week,” the groups stated.
“These are just few reasons that stakeholders provider of the service are almost living a hand to mouth existence if the government will not do any measures that may somehow address this issues and concerns,” they went on.
It is worth noting that this week alone, petroleum products in the country went up, marking the fourth straight week of hikes for gasoline, and the fifth for both diesel and kerosene. The price of diesel increased by P4 per liter; gasoline by P0.50; and kerosene by P2.75.