A provisional 50-centavo hike in jeepney fares to help drivers and operators cope with rising diesel prices will take effect in Western Visayas starting today, LTFRB Regional DirectorRomulo Bernardes said yesterday.

The 50 centavo increase will mean the P7.50 fare in the region will now be P8 for first four kilometers, he told the DAILY STAR.

However, he said the 20 percent discount for students, the elderly and disabled will mean their fare will only be P6.40.

All PUJ operators have to do is put notices in their vehicles that a 50 centavo hike is in effect to enable them to start collecting the increase, Bernardes said.

LTFRB Chairman Jaime Jacob said the fare hike for PUJ passengers in the National Capital region will be P8.50 for the first four kilometers, up from the current P8.

The increase could automatically be taken back if diesel prices swing back to previous levels, the LTFRB board said.

Jessie Ortega, secretary general of the United Negros Drivers Operators Center, said the 50 centavo increase is not commensurate to the numerous fuel price hikes that have taken effect.

“It is not enough, it will not cover for the drivers’ loss of income,” he said.

A fare hike is not the answer to their problems, what is needed is a review of the Oil Deregulation Law and the removal of the Expanded Value Added Tax on petroleum products, he said.

Even a 50 percent reduction of the EVAT would ease their problems but President Benigno Aquino has chosen to ignore their plight, Ortega said.

Frank Carbon, president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the fare increase on top of rising fuel prices is terrible, it will further push up the prices of basic commodities.

The government should review the Old Deregulation Law to reduce the burden on the people, he said.

Labor leader Wennie Sancho said the fare hike only further bolsters their call for a wage increase.

But Carbon said this would only drive up prices of commodities that would erode whatever gain the workers get from a wage increase.

Meanwhile, 30 percent of the population that belong to the informal sector and are not covered by wage increases, will suffer the most, Carbon said.*CPG

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