Jeepney drivers seek P7.50 minimum fare

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Alberto Suansing said as part of the process, they will be acting on Pasang Masda’s petition of the transport group, which filed the petition last Friday. Pasang Masda wanted the minimum fare for jeep reverted to P7.50 for the first four kilometers.

Roberto Martin, national president of Pasang Masda, said the minimum fare even reached P8 for every 4 kilometers in May last year, when the price of diesel was at P42.05 per liter.

In December 2008, the minimum jeepney fare went down to P7.50 after the price of diesel fuel went down to P35.98 per liter.

With the latest series of price increase in the prices of petroleum products, Martin said that they are wondering why it was hard for them to get a fare increase. He then accused the government of defending the oil companies, which had increased the prices of oil products so many times in the last few weeks.

Suansing dismissed Martin’s allegation as ridiculous and stressed they would have to follow the process before the LTFRB could decide on fare petition. “Fifteen days upon receipt of the motion, that’s when we can start the hearing on the petition,” he said.

Aside from Pasang Masda’s petition, the fare hike petition filed by the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization will also be heard. –Jason Faustino, Daily Tribune