Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) — Transport regulators said they were more keen on granting a regular jeepney fare increase than the rush hour surge fee being pushed by transport groups.
“Yung sinasabi ho nilang surge fee, mahihirapan po kami riyan kasi hindi mo naman matatantiya kung anong oras sumakay ang tao at anong oras siya bababa,” said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Teofilo Guadiz.
[Translation: The surge fee would be difficult to implement because it would be hard to determine the exact time people would board or disembark from the vehicle.]
“What we’re looking into is a one-time increase in the fare which is a more logical possibility rather than yung surge fee.”
Transport groups earlier proposed a surge charge of ₱1 on top of base fares during rush hours, particularly between 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The LTFRB implemented last year the ₱1-increase equivalent to a ₱ 12 and ₱14 fare for traditional and modern public utility jeepneys, respectively.
Fuel companies raised this week the per-liter prices of diesel by ₱ 4, gasoline by ₱0.50, and kerosene by ₱2.75.
Although dismayed with the rise in fuel prices, jeepney driver Noel Digas said the burden should not be passed on to passengers through another round of fare hikes.
“Kawawa ang commuter. Mahihirapan din sila. Ang suweldo nila, wala pang ₱600 e,” he said.
[Translation: It would be bad for commuters. It will be hard for them. They only earn less than ₱600.]
Meanwhile, the LTFRB said that it would seek the opinion of the National Economic and Development Authority regarding any fare increase.
“Yung kanila pong kahilingan na pagtaas ng pamasahe ay nasa LTFRB Board na po, masusi naming pinag-aaralan and we will be requesting the opinion of NEDA who will have the say kung magtataas ho kami at kung magtataas ho kami, kung ilan ho,” said Guadiz.
[Translation: The request for a fare hike is already with the LTFRB Board and we are carefully looking into them. We will also be asking the opinion of NEDA if there is a need to implement a fare hike, and if yes, by how much.]
The LTFRB added that it is expecting the Department of Budget and Management to release within two weeks the nearly ₱3-billion fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers to help cushion the impact of soaring fuel prices.
