Transport groups to hold emergency meeting

An emergency meeting will be held by major transport groups following the new round of price increases made by oil companies over the weekend.

The meeting would tackle, among others, a possible hike in fares of public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) national president Zenaida Maranan said yesterday she wants to meet with her members as well as other transport groups to plan their next move after the oil price hike.

"Pag-aaralan namin mabuti dahil kung kami ang tatanungin, ayaw sana naming magtaas ng pasahe. Pero dahil sa pagtaas ng diesel nitong nakaraang linggo, kailangan namin ulit magpulong kung ano ang nararapat na gawin. Tingnan natin kung ano ang kalalabasan ng pagpupulong," Maranan said.

The FEJODAP head said she would meet with leaders of other transport groups, including Melencio Vargas of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and Orlando Marquez of the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance (MJODA).

They also plan to meet with leaders of militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper and Operator Nationwide (PISTON).

The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), led by its president Efren de Luna, already has a pending fare hike petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), asking that public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in Metro Manila charge an P8.75 minimum fare for the first four kilometers plus P1.75 per kilometer thereafter.

PUJs in Metro Manila currently charge P7.50 for the first four kilometers plus P1.25 per kilometer thereafter.

Oil firms last Sunday increased the price of gasoline, kerosene and diesel by 50 centavos per liter. The price of liquefied petroleum gas was also increased by 56 centavos per kilogram.

Oil firms said the price adjustment was due to the increase in prices of crude and refined petroleum products in the world market and the reinstatement of the three percent tariff on crude and finished product imports. — Sandy Araneta