Transport group files P1 fare hike petition tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the upward trend in diesel prices, a transport group over the weekend said that it would formally file a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) tomorrow, seeking a P1 provisional fare increase for the first kilometer.

In a radio interview, PASANG-MASDA (Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburb Drivers Association Nationwide Inc.) national president Roberto Martin said that, aside from the P1 provisional fare hike, his group will also seek an additional 50 centavos increase per every additional kilometer.

“We already discussed with our lawyer that we will file the P1 provisional increase on Tuesday,” Martin said.

He said that based on his conversation with National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection Inc. chair Elvira Medina, the group will not oppose the petition.

“She encouraged us to file the P1 fare hike, she said ‘we in the commuters’ group will file a petition interposing no objection to the P1,’ so we expect the LTFRB will immediately approve the petition,” Martin added.

According to Martin, the drivers already incurred at least P450 daily losses amid the unabated spike in the diesel prices.

“Once the prices of petroleum products normalize, we will recall the P1 provisional increase. We already did this in 2018 when we went to the LTFRB to remove the P1 provisional increase,” he noted.

Martin said once LTFRB approves the petition, the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys will increase to P13 from the current P12 and P15 for modern jeepneys from the current P14.

“The modern jeepneys will be included in our petition. There is always a P2 difference (between the fare of traditional jeepneys and modern jeepneys),” he said.

Martin has said that the “surcharge fare” petition of P1 was already set aside.

“Even Elvira Medina agreed to remove the additional fare during window hours as this will only cause a feud between the passengers and the drivers,” he added.

The P1 surcharge fare was intended during rush hours, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Suspend fuel excise tax – Piston

Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) over the weekend asked President Marcos to issue an executive order suspending the excise tax on petroleum products as oil price hikes continue unabated.

In a radio interview, Piston president Mody Floranda said that the suspension on the excise tax on oil will help reduce the price of petroleum products by P6 per liter.

“President Marcos needs to suspend the excise tax on petroleum products as once it is done, it will help not only the drivers and operators, but also the consumers as it will bring down the retail prices of basic commodities,” Floranda said.

Floranda noted that this was already done during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“If you can recall, there was a time when the retail price of diesel reached as high as P85 to P86 per liter. Immediately, then president Arroyo suspended the implementation of VAT (value added tax) on oil products,” he said.

According to Floranda, the suspension should be done while Congress deliberates on the proposals to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law.

“ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo already filed a bill on the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law. Almost 26 years after its implementation, it did not benefit the driver and operators and the public as the government became powerless in controlling the spike of petroleum products,” he said.

Floranda said that the LTFRB should immediately act on the P2 fare hike filed by various transport groups.

Aside from Piston, the Liga ng Transportasyon at mga Operator sa Pilipinas, STOP and Go and the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines asked the LTFRB to approve the P2 fare adjustment for the first four kilometers.

The four transport groups asked the LTFRB to increase the minimum fare for public utility jeepney to P14 from the current P12 as fuel prices continue to increase.

“At present, a driver loses at least P450 per day amid the spike in the retail prices of diesel. If we consume at least 40 liters of liters in 25 days, this is equivalent to P7,500 monthly loss in earnings instead of a source of income to the families of drivers and operators,” Floranda said.