MANILA, Philippines — A commuter group urged the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board to revoke the newly approved minimum bus and jeepney fare increase in the wake of fuel price cuts.
Arlis Acao and Rodolfo Javellano of the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters asked the board to bring back the minimum fare for jeepneys in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and southern Luzon to P8 from P10.
They also want the LTFRB to revoke the provisional P1 fare hike for city and provincial commuter buses—from the current P11 and P13 for ordinary and air-conditioned buses, respectively, to P10 and P12.
LOOK | Consumer group files petition at the LTFRB to bring back the minimum jeepney fare to P8 in light of lower petroleum prices. (via @News5AKSYON / @gerarddelapena) pic.twitter.com/qKM03XCmqg
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) November 13, 2018
Oil companies lowered pump prices for the fifth straight week starting Tuesday. Among the firms that slashed their pump prices this week were Phoenix Petroleum, Seaoil, Flying V, Eastern Petroleum, Shell, PetroGazz, Metro Oil, PTT Philippines, CPI (Caltex) and Jetti Petroleum.
The group also cited the expected suspension of the scheduled increase of excise taxes on diesel and gasoline next year.
Last month, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said President Rodrigo Duterte would soon order the suspension of fuel tax hike, which is allowed under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
LTFRB earlier junked the group’s appeal to block jeepney and bus fare hikes.
UFCC had argued that the fare increase would be unjust to the millions of Filipinos already affected by rising inflation. — Gaea Katreena Cabico