Transport group mulls fare hike petition

MANILA, Philippines - Transport leaders will meet tomorrow to set the benchmark for a fare hike petition amid the unabated increases in fuel prices in the past weeks.

Vigor Mendoza, president of 1-UTAK, called on the government Saturday to avert a looming fare increase by implementing programs for drivers of public utility vehicles.

Mendoza said his group would initiate a fare increase petition once the price of fuel reaches P45 per liter.

The current price of diesel is P44 per liter.

“If these trends continue, we will be constrained to ask for a fare adjustment. If nothing is done, expect fares to go up by December,” he said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board takes months to resolve fare hike petitions, the transport leader noted.

Mendoza said drivers have been complaining about the series of oil price hikes.

He said for every P1 increase in fuel, drivers lose P30 per day on the average.

Drivers’ take home pay as of now is P500 per day.

“Much as there is an urgent need to address corruption, it is equally urgent to look at the impact of oil price increases on the day-to-day lives of ordinary Filipinos. The government should implement mitigating measures,” Mendoza said.

He said fuel cost would be reduced if the government could give transport operators soft loans.

He said a shift to electronic jeepneys would result in energy savings of up to P1,000 per day, thus increasing the income of drivers and operators.