High fuel costs rip earnings, drivers ask for fare increase

PUBLIC transport operators will be filing their petitions for fare adjustments following a series of fuel price hikes implemented by oil companies—19 price spirals for this year alon. But their request will only be attended to after President Benigno Aquino 3rd delivers his second state-of-the-nation-address (SONA) next week.

According to Lawyer Vigor Mendoza, chairman of the United Transport Alliance Koalisiyon (1UTAK) the fare hike petition is the result of consultations made by the organization to leaders and members nationwide.“They (members and leaders) told us that they cannot bear any longer the sky rocketing fuel prices and they can’t tighten their belts anymore,” Vigor said.

Initially the group will be seeking an additional P1.00 for the first kilometer in the jeepney fares, raising it from the current P8.00 to P9.00.

They will also seek a P0.50 provisional increase while the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) hears their petition.

Mendoza also disclosed that PUJ driver are losing around P250 from their daily income and are just earning less than P300 a day because of the high diesel prices.

Public utility buses operating in Metro Manila will just be asking the LTFRB for the immediate resolution of its fare petition filed last January 2010.

Based on its pending petition PUB are requesting P5.00 additional on the first five kilometers which means from P10.00 to P15.00 for ordinary buses and from P12.00 to P17.00 for air-conditioned bus units.

Juliet De Jesus, spokesperson of the Metro Manila Bus Operators Association (MMBOA) believes that it is about time the LTFRB granted their petition because prices of fuel for this year alone increased 19 times.

Rep. Homer Mercado, of 1UTAK partylist will also be asking the LTFRB to decide on the fare hike petition of provincial bus operators which remained pending at the board for more than one year.

Provincial bus operators are asking for an additional P0.50 on top of its current fare rate. This means from the current P1.30 for ordinary provincial buses the rate will be P1.80 per kilometer while from P1.65 for air conditioned buses the rate will soon be P2.15 per kilometer. –JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA REPORTER, Manila Times