Transport groups ask for 12 hike in jeepney fare

Leaders of various transport groups on Tuesday formally filed a petition with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for an increase in the minimum jeepney fare from 18 to 110.

The heads of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), League of Transport Operators of the Philippines (LTAP), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), and Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) signed the petition

yesterday at the LTFRB Office in Quezon City.

The group emphasized the need for a jeepney fare hike as the increasing prices of fuel and spare parts have adversely affected them.

They added that it is "just and necessary" to raise the minimum fare in order to cover the increase in diesel price, spare parts and other operational cost for the memincrease ber drivers and operators.

The petition only covered the fare on public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Regions 3 and 4.

The Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it supports the demand of transport groups to raise the minimum fare for jeepneys to 110.

LTFRB Board Member Atty. Aileen Lizada said that they "must thoroughly deliberate the matter" first as the will affect an estimated 3.2 million passengers in a single trip as PUJs have the most number of units nationwide.

"The estimated number of PUJs is 200,000. With an average of 16 passengers per unit, we are talking about 3.2 million passengers that will be affected," Lizada explained.

Lizada added that the LTFRB will invite commuters’ groups to a hearing on September 27, Wednesday, so they can air their side on the petition.

Early this year, the board approved a measly 11 increase in the minimum jeepney fare in the NCR and Regions 3 and 4.