By Brian Campued
There would be no fare hike for traditional and modern jeepneys following a big-time oil price rollback in diesel prices earlier this week, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Friday.
Oil companies announced oil price adjustments effective on Dec. 2, with P2.90 slashed for diesel and P3.20 for kerosene.
Citing a study by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), DOTr Sec. Giovanni Lopez stressed that the proposed P1 to P2 fare hike for public utility vehicles (PUVs) may also affect inflation in the next two years.
Consultations and dialogues held by the LTFRB with transport groups likewise showed that PUV operators are still having second thoughts about a fare hike.
“Malaki ang magiging epekto ng taas-pasahe sa ekonomiya at sa pangkalahatan, lalo na’t bumabangon pa lang ang ilang probinsiyang nasalanta mula sa matinding kalamidad tulad ng nakaraang lindol at bagyo,” Lopez said.
According to LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza, five regions—Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, and Metro Manila—are against a fare hike.
Lopez assured PUV drivers and operators that the government is committed to finding solutions to address their concerns as well as more ways to support the public transport sector, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive.
Meanwhile, the DOTr and LTFRB, in partnership with the Department of Justice and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, created an Anti-Colorum Task Force to go after individuals and groups behind “colorum” PUVs.
“Hahabulin at huhulihin natin ang mga sangkot sa ilegal na operasyong ito. Hindi titigil ang DOTr at LTFRB sa pagtugis sa inyo dahil kapakanan ng mga lehitimong PUV drivers, at maging mga commuter ang nakasalalay dito,” Lopez declared.
Mendoza also urged unregistered transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers and operators to make use of the 17,000 registration slots available for TNVS.
“Magandang pagkakataon ito para talikuran ang ilegal na gawain. Tinitiyak namin na magiging patas at mabilis ang proseso. Mas mabuti na ito kaysa palaging mabuhay sa takot na mahuli, makulong, at magmulta ng malaki,” he said.
-jpv
