By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In a media release on Friday, the LTFRB said that it began consolidating all the petitions for fare increase, including those of passenger jeepneys that have been pending before the agency.
The petitions for fare increase are among the more than 37,000 petitions and motions that remain pending before the LTFRB and are seen as one of the major reasons of the public transportation problems in Metro Manila and other parts of the country—which Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez described earlier as “chaotic and like war”.
This move was earlier cited by the agency as a timely intervention to mitigate the effects of rising fuel expenses and cost of spare parts that eat into the profit margins of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers across the country.
LTFRB Chairperson Vigor Mendoza said in a statement, “Nauunawaan natin ang sitwasyon ng ating mga kababayan sa PUV sector dahil talaga namang nagtaas ang presyo ng mga krudo at mga bilihin, kasama na yung mga spare parts na ginagamit sa maintenance, sa mga nakalipas na taon.”
He added further, “But we need to balance everything, we need to come up with the best solution that is acceptable both to the PUV sector and the commuters and other stakeholders that will be directly affected by any fare increase.”
As of press time, at least five major transport groups filed a petition for fare increase as high as P5 in the first four kilometers, or minimum fare, in 2023, and at least P1 for every succeeding kilometer.
Such a major change calls for a public consultation with all concerned stakeholders, with the LTFRB Chief adding that the agency is already conducting an assessment of franchises issued to PUVs vis-à-vis sustainability of operating on designated public transport routes due to higher operational expenses.
Mendoza concluded, “Part of this assessment and accounting is the study of whether there is a direct relationship between the shortage of PUVs and the challenges in operating public transport.”
Once complete, the LTFRB’s findings on this matter will be forwarded to the DOTr by November 17.
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