MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will conduct its hearing next week on the petition filed by various transport groups for a PHP2 jeepney fare hike in Metro Manila, central andsouthern Luzon regions.
LTFRB board member and spokesperson Aileen Lizada said commuter groups would be invited to the hearing scheduled on September 27 to get their side on the issue.
“The estimated number of public utility jeepney (PUJ) units nationwide is 200,000 with an average of 16 passengers per unit, we are talking of 3.2 million passengers that will be affected. The increase has a social impact. Thus, the Board should deliberate on the matter,” Lizada said in a text message to reporters.
The petitioners are asking the LTFRB that the jeepney fare be increased from PHP8 to PHP10 in the National Capital Region (NCR) as well as Regions 3 and 4 for the first four kilometers to cover the increases in oil prices, spare parts and other operational costs to drivers and operators.
Among the transport groups that signed the petition are: Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Liga ng Transport Operator ng Pilipinas (LTOP), Alliance Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) and Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association (PASANG MASDA).
The fare for jeepney was increased from PHP7 to PHP8 last February due to a series of increases in diesel oil prices. | PNA
