Fuel discount, but no PUJ fare hike

The government has offered jeepney groups yesterday compromise concessions, but denied them the P1 provisional fare increase they were asking.

Transportation Undersecretary Arturo Valdez said that the main compromise concession of the government was a P1 discount on diesel fuel for public utility transport drivers and operators.

The P1 diesel discount, it was learned, will be made available to jeepney drivers at gas stations of Petron.

Valdez said that other concessions include the liberal issuance of operator’s permits to jeepney operators who want to use their units for private use.

Another was the extension of the two-consortium system being implemented by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on insurance companies allowed to provide insurance coverage to jeepney franchise holders.

Jeepney groups had earlier expressed their desire for the extension of the system since it turned away fake insurance companies from the LTFRB.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, LTFRB Chairwoman Ma. Elena Bautista presented the concessions to leaders of five jeepney groups seeking a fare increase during a meeting yesterday.

The jeepney groups are set to discuss among themselves the concessions before deciding if they will push through with their March 8 transport strike. – Rainier Allan Ronda