MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is expected to decide today if it will grant the petition of transport groups for an increase in minimum fare of public utility jeepneys nationwide, a government press release said.

Due to the continuing fuel price hikes, passenger jeepney operators and drivers are asking the government to provisionally increase the current minimum fare rate by P0.50.

During the public hearing on Thursday, the three-man LTFRB deliberated on the transport sector’s prayer for a nationwide P0.50 provisional fare hike for PUJs.

Board member Manuel Iway said they will release the formal decision today.

If the LTFRB grants the fare hike, PUJ passengers in Metro Manila will be paying P8.50 for the first four kilometers from the current P8.

On the part of the transport sector, Obet Martin of the Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association appealed to the riding public to understand and commune with transport operators and drivers whose livelihood is affected by the surge in the prices of petroleum products.

“We appeal to the public’s sense of consideration, if ever the provisional fare increase is approved. This provisional fare hike is just temporary and we promise to lower the fares as soon as oil prices go down,” he said.

Pasang Masda filed the petition for fare hike together with the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines; Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines; Liga ng Transportasyon at Opereytors sa Pilipinas; MTU-Transporter; and Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators.*PNA

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