The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved on the evening of July 4 a petition to increase the minimum fare of public utility jeepneys to P9. The jeepney fare hike was expected to take effect in the afternoon of July 5 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal at Quezon).
The last fare increase for public utility jeepneys happened in 2017, when the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) set it at P8.
The hike comes on the heels of rising consumer goods and services triggered by the TRAIN law. In an interview with Inquirer.net, president of Pinagkaisahang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) George San Mateo said, “The government passed the problem of high oil prices to poor commuters... The problem is, the government does not want to listen. There are many possible solutions and suspending the enforcement of the TRAIN law is one of them. It is really the cause of the people’s present economic difficulties."
Manila Bulletin also reported that the original September 2017 proposal was to increase the basic fair to P10. One of those pushing for the change is Pangkalahatang Sangguniang Manila and Suburb Drivers Association Nationwide Inc. (PASANGMASDA) leader Obet Martin, who noted that this will help drivers cope better with rising fuel prices; however, he is happy about the current P1 fare hike: "Kung makakapagsakay ng 350 passengers ang driver, may dagdag na P350 na kita na ang mga drivers. Malaking amount na rin para makatulong sa drivers kaysa sa wala."
With additional reporting by Charlene J. Owen.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
