UV Express group asks LTFRB for a 12/kilometer fare hike

A group of UV Express drivers and operators formally filed a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday seeking a 12 per kilometer fare increase.

The Coalition of Operators, Drivers, Employees, atbp. (CODE-X), said

the last time LTFRB granted them a 12 per kilometer fare hike was in 2006 and has not sought any increase until now.

CODE-X national president Rosalino Marable said the expected increase in operating cost brought about by the new tax reform law prompted them to seek a fare hike taking into account the increasing costs of fuel, terminal fees, costs of spare parts, and even the cost of "payola to some unscrupulous authorities in traffic enforcement.”

In their petition, CODE-X said the UV Express sector “rolled with the punches whenever there were some increases in the cost of fuel, spare parts, increase in terminal fees and other operating expenses. Our sector, modesty aside, suffered silently and bore the brunt of these added expenses."

The group also factored in heavy traffic which reduced their trips to only four a day from the usual eight trips.

These factors, CODE-X appealed is "more than justified" to request the approval of a 12 per kilometer or a total of 14 per kilometer increase.