P.50 fare hike just a drop in the bucket - Piston

MANILA, Philippines - Transport group Piston has scored the government for the P.50 increase to the minimum fare of public utility jeepneys in Metro Manila, Regions 3 and 4, saying the hike is just a drop in the bucket.

Piston national president George San Mateo, instead, said the Aquino administration should have imposed a P6 fuel discount in pump price for all public utility vehicles nationwide.

"Mas magiging makabuluhan pa sa mga jeepney drayber sa buong bansa kung pinakinggan lamang ni Pangulong Aquino ang panawagan ng Piston na P6 fuel discount," San Mateo said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier announced that it has granted P.50 increase in the minimum fare of P8 for the first four kilometers of travel.

The Board has also approved a P.10 additional for the succeeding kilometers , starting June 15 in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog. 

As this developed, members of Piston and its allied transport organizations will stage a protest action at the LTFRB main office in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 3.

The protesters will reiterate their call on the government to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and 12 percent Value Added Tax on petroleum products.