The House of Representatives is holding on to a tenuous promise from transport groups that they won't seek a fare hike for as long as the government can deliver immediate relief in the form of either the suspension or reduction of excise taxes on fuel.

Officials of Samahang Manibela, Mananakay at Nagkakaisang Terminal ng Transportation (Manibela) and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators (LTOP) made the commitment during a hearing held by the House Committee on Transportation Wednesday, March 11.

Presided over by chairman Quezon City 3rd Rep. Franz Pumaren, the hearing delved into the government’s fuel subsidy program for the public transportation sector and Libreng Sakay (free rides) for commuters.

This was in the backdrop of the epic price increase being imposed by local oil companies this week, with the raging war in the oil-producing Middle East cited as the reason.

During the hearing, Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Elijah “Eli” San Fernando addressed the elephant in the room, and asked the transport groups whether or not they planned to seek a fare hike.

"Kung magpatuloy po itong gulo sa Middle East at hindi po ma-control natin ‘yong pagsipa ng presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo, ano po ‘yong nafo-forsee ng mga driver natin sa jeepney na dapat itaas doon sa pamasahe naman para makabawi ‘yong mga drivers natin?" San Fernando asked Mar Valbuena, founder and president of Manibela.

(If the conflict in the Middle East continues and we cannot control the surge in petroleum product prices, what do our jeepney drivers foresee as the necessary fare increase to recover their losses?)

Valbuena replied, "Last resort na po talaga ng Manibela na mag-request ng fare increase (Requesting a fare increase is really the last resort for Manibela)."

"Hangga’t maaari kung pwede pang i-suspend ng mas mabilis, magkaroon tayo ng sense of urgency na i-suspend ‘yong excise tax [sa langis] o ma-reduce din ‘yong value added tax (VAT) para nang sa gano’n ay mas malaki po ‘yong mate-take home ng ating mga tsuper," he said.

(As much as possible, if it can be suspended quickly, there should be a sense of urgency to suspend the excise tax on oil or reduce the VAT, so that our drivers can take home more income.)

Valbuena told the committee that due to the recent fuel price hikes, jeepney drivers' daily income dropped from P800 to around P400.

LTOP President Orlando Marquez Sr. was on the same page with Valbuena regarding San Fernando's question. “Sang-ayon po kami. Last resort po ang fare increase (We agree. A fare increase is the last resort)," he said.

Later, during Wednesday's marathon plenary session, House members approved on second reading House Bill (HB) No. 8418, titled, "Act authorizing the President to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global economic emergencies, amending for the purpose the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended."

Despite the bill's expedited movement in the lower chamber this past week, the solons couldn't approve it on third and final reading Wednesday since they didn't receive communication from Malacañang that it had been certified as an urgent measure.

The House can still grant final passage to HB No.8418 when it resumes sessions next week.

Prices of gasoline and diesel are set to go up by a whopping P17 to P24 per liter by the end of the week.

In case jeepney drivers do seek a fare hike, Valbuena said: "Kung magpapatuloy po talaga ito, maliit po ‘yong P2 na pwede nating hingin sa LTFRB (If this really continues, the P2 we can request from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will be small.)

But Valbuena noted that any additional profit the drivers and operators would take home from such fare hike would be "meaningless" if the Middle East conflict drives up other costs.

"At ang problema naman po dito, ‘pagka nagkaroon ng inflation dahil sa logistic cost at doon sa pagtaas ng mga bilihin dahil nga po magkakaroon ng domino effect, wala rin pong magiging saysay sa mga tsuper ito dahil ‘yong kikitain namin, maidadagdag lang doon sa taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin," he said.

(And the problem here is that when inflation arises due to logistic costs and the increase in goods, since there will be a domino effect, it will still be meaningless for the drivers, because whatever we earn will only be added to the rising prices of goods.)

"So last resort po talaga namin ito, pero ang nakuha ko pong report today, may mga grupo na po kami na alternate po ang pagbyahe kasi hirap na (So this really is our last resort. But based on the report I received today, some groups have already resorted to alternating trips because they are struggling)," Valbuena said.

"Kasi, hindi po normal ‘yong pagtaas ngayon ng mga produktong petrolyo, unlike noong Ukraine and Russia [conflict], medyo utay-utay pa po eh. Ito biglaan eh (Because the rise in petroleum products now is not normal, unlike during the Ukraine and Russia conflict, when it was more gradual. This time it’s sudden)," he added.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin earlier explained to solons that the Middle East situation hits harder for the Philippines since an estimated 90 percent of its fuel needs are sourced from that region.