MANILA — A labor group has supported the Php1.00 fare increase in public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in Metro Manila and Regions 3 and 4-A.
Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said the fare hike is needed by jeepney drivers to cope with the rising prices of fuel and basic commodities.
“Labor group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines have no objection to the P1 provisional fare increase for PUJs in NCR and regions 3 and 4-A,” he said in a statement issued on Friday.
“We recognize that our jeepney drivers who are part of the informal sector economy workers also need to recover their lost income due to extraordinary rise in prices of fuel and basic commodities and other services,” Tanjusay added.
He believed that it is time for the National Capital Region (NCR) wage board to approve an increase in the salary of workers in Metro Manila.
“With the increase in PUJ fares and forthcoming increases in PUBs (public utility buses) and LRT fares and the simultaneous increases in other basic commodities and prime services, there is now an urgent need for the NCR wage board to adjust the current PHP512 daily minimum wage rate in Metro Manila for workers cope with increases in the prices of goods and services,” Tanjusay said.
On Friday, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued an order, granting the PHP1.00 provisional fare increase for PUJs in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
The new PUJ fare for first four kilometers is now at PHP9 from PHP8. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
