MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday urged commuter groups to appeal to transport authorities anew to stop the implementation of increases in jeepney and bus fares following rollbacks in fuel prices.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said commuters should consider approaches to lower fares prices if they found the hikes “too much” for them to handle.
“Our suggestion at the time was for them to go to LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) and ask that agency to reconsider,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
“I don’t know if they have done that. but they should if they really feel that the increase in fare is too much for them,” he added.
Panelo said commuters should use petitions as an avenue “to settle whatever differences they have.”
However, last Oct. 30, the LTFRB junked the petition of commuter group United Filipino Consumers and Commuters for failure to present new issues for the board to reconsider its fare hike.
Earlier, the LTFRB approved a PHP2 increase in the minimum jeepney fare from PHP8 to PHP10 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also asked the LTFRB to review the jeepney fare hikes amid the declining oil prices in the world market.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said fares must be based on a predetermined matrix that will set clear guidelines when these should be increased or lowered. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
