Palace: Commuters can appeal fare hike before LTFRB

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday advised commuters who are against the jeepney and bus fare hikes to file an appeal before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The LTFRB approved last week fares increases for public utility vehicles as consumers are bearing the brunt of rising commodity prices. The new fares will take effect next month.

"Perhaps what they should do is to file a motion for reconsideration and argue their case," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview. 

Panelo said the LTFRB is balancing the interests of bus and jeepney owners and commuters. 

"According to their findings, (the fare hike) will have very little effect on inflation," the presidential spokesman said. 

In a media interview last Thursday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the recently approved fare increases may have an inflationary impact.
He also said the fare adjustments granted by the LTFRB were higher than what economic planners had expected.

The minimum jeepney fare in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and southern Luzon was raised to P10 from a provisional P9. The LTFRB had approved a provisional increase earlier in the year from P8. 

Jeepney, bus fares hiked

The fare on buses plying Metro Manila roads, meanwhile, was hiked to P11 from P10 for ordinary trips and to P13 from P12 for airconditioned trips.

The fare for provincial buses is still at P9 for the first five kilometers but the rate for every succeeding kilometer was increased to P1.55 from P1.40. 

Airconditioned provincial bus fares were increased to P1.75 per kilometer from P1.60 kilometer for regular buses, P1.85 per kilometer from P1.70 per kilometer for deluxe buses, P1.95 per kilometer from P1.80 per kilometer for super deluxe buses, and P2.40 per kilometer from P2.25 per kilometer for luxury buses.

Panelo previously said the public has to take the brunt of rising prices for now but claimed that the price movements are just temporary.