INTERSPAGO

LTFRB Chief: Fare increase is last option

A fare increase is the government's last option as it is looking for ways to "lessen the burden" of rising pump prices of oil for the transport sector, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board said Monday.
"Fare hike should be the last option. The government is looking for other measures to lessen the burden on them," LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantion said.
Lantion said the measures include the suspension of taxes on spare parts for public utility vehicles, conversion of jeepney diesel tanks to liquefied petroleum gas, and a possible P2 fuel subsidy.
He said the government is also studying possibility of slashing tarrif on oil products, the review of the expanded value-added tax on oil and the Oil Deregulation Law.
While it is the right of the jeepney operators and bus companies to file a petition for fare hike, Lantion said the transport sector should also help the government look for ways of how to cushion the impact of the increasing prices of oil products.
Transport groups said Saturday that it is amending its P1.50 minimum fare hike petition to P2.50.
The LTFRB has approved a P0.50 provisional minimum fare hike while it is hearing the transport groups' initial petition for a P1.50 fare hike.
The provisional increase will be taken back as soon as the LTFRB approves the fare hike petition.
Zenaida Maranan, Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators president, said the amended petition will be filed because of the series of oil price increase in the last few weeks.
"Another P1. Bukod sa P1.50 centavos. Dahil binigay na iyong P0.50 na provisional increase, di may P1. Ngayon magdadagdag pa kami ng P1," Maranan told ABS-CBN News Channels Top Story on Saturday.
Maranan said they will file their amended petition together with bus transport groups. "Sabay-sabay na po kami ng mga bus companies, kagaya ng provincial bus, Metro Manila bus."
If the amended petition is approved, the minimum fare for jeepneys will be P10.
Maranan's group, meanwhile, said if the government doesn't agree with the amended petition, it should at least implement a P6-per liter subsidy public transport drivers and operators.
She said the government can do this by suspending the implementation of the EVAT on oil products only for the transport sector.