The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Thursday that it started deliberations of all pending fare hike petitions of several transport groups.
According to LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, the agency is already reviewing the appropriate fare adjustments for jeepneys, passenger buses, utility van express, taxis, and motorcycle taxis.
‘We are already reviewing and discussing all the pending petitions for fare hike and as per instruction by Secretary Banoy, we have to come up with the recommendation in the soonest possible time,’ Mendoza said in a statement, referring to acting Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez.
Earlier, the LTFRB was tasked to recompute the appropriate adjustments based on the petition of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide to increase the minimum fare by P10.
The agency said it is also reviewing petitions filed by the other four groups, such as the Metro Comet Transport Service Cooperative, UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines, United Transportation Coalition of the Philippines, and Manibela.
All five of the transport groups raised concerns on the spike of their operational costs after a series of oil price increases brought by the renewed tensions in the Middle East, according to the LTFRB.
Last Tuesday, July 28, oil companies implemented an increase in petroleum product prices by as much as P7.30 per liter, driving prices of regular diesel to P93.60 per liter in Metro Manila.
Mendoza said that various factors are still being considered, such as the potential impact of the fare hike on the prices of basic goods, as well as the commuters’ capacity to adapt to the fare adjustments. He ensured that other stakeholders and government agencies are consulted during the deliberations.
‘We assure everybody that the LTFRB will always take the path of measures that recognizes the interest of the [public utility vehicle] sector but ensuring that the welfare of commuters and the general public are protected,’ Mendoza added.
Members of the transport groups held a two-day protest at the Petron station along Quezon City last July 22, calling out the Department of Energy’s failure to ‘protect the public interest and failure to implement fare increase.’