The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said a new jeepney fare hike is “possible” by the first or second week of September.
According to the LTFRB, the public utility vehicle (PUV) operators already filed seven petitions for a fare hike after continuous oil price increase announcements.
Each petition submitted to their office will be subject to various hearings and will receive a position paper for the commuter group and the National Authority of Economics and Development (NEDA) to balance the economy before mandating a fare increase.
In the Laging Handa briefing, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas (LTOP) President Orlando Marquez said that they already filed a proposal to the LTFRB for a P2.00 fare hike.
“Kami lahat dito ay dalawang piso ‘yung pakiusap na sana ay may idagdag,” he said.
Marquez added that they are appealing for a fare hike so that their fellow drivers will not look for other jobs.
“Kung kami naman ho ang di tataasan, baka bumalik ‘yung mga driver namin na pupunta na lang sa magiging mason na naman, karpintero, so marami hong mga trabaho ho ang pupuntahan nila,” he added.
Aside from jeepney operators, bus operators also submitted their resolution for fare price hike. –With reports from Karen Villanda/ Katrina Gracia Consebido-gb
