Transportation groups in Cebu welcomed the planned provisional P1 fare hike as they expressed alarm over the supposed big-time oil price hike next week.
Ellen Maghanoy, chairperson of the 13-member Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives (FCTC), said the fare hike is badly needed for jeepney drivers to manage daily operational costs.
“It will be a big help,” said Maghanoy, also the chairperson of the El Pardo Transportation Cooperative.
Maghanyo said their current minimum fare is P15 for modern jeepneys.
As they welcomed the provisional fare hike, Maghanoy said jeepney drivers are alarmed by the next week’s price hike in which oil prices could increase by as high as P5 per liter.
“It would be very heavy on our part. The fare hike is only P1 but for us, it’s better than nothing,” Maghanoy said.
Depending on operating hours, Maghanoy said fuel costs for one modern jeepney unit range between P2,500 and P2,700 daily.
For those units serving longer routes, fuel expenses could go as high as P3,000 a day, she said.
“Our units are airconditioned so they demand higher fuel costs. If traditional jeepneys, our fuel costs could only be in between P800 and P900,” said Maghanoy added.