Marcos wants study on PUJs' fare hike petition

Malacañang on Thursday said President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. wants concerned agencies to study the request of public transport groups for a P1 fare hike for public utility jeepneys. 

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said this matter would be studied not only by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) but also by the country's economic team.

''Ang direktiba po ng Pangulo, ito po ay aaralin dahil marami pong maaapektuhan dito,'' Castro said.

(The directive of the President is to study this because a lot of individuals will be affected by this.) 

''Hindi lamang po ang DOTr ang siyang magdedecide dito kung hindi ang buong economic team para po malaman natin kung kakayanin ng taumbayan ang dagdag na pamasahe,'' she added. 

(It's not just the DOTr who will decide but also the economic team to determine if the public can manage this fare hike.) 

There will be consultations and public hearings on the matter, the Palace official ensured. 

Earlier reports said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was already reviewing the petition from major transport groups seeking a provisional fare increase for public utility jeepneys. 

The Pasang Masda, ALTODAP and ACTO filed a joint petition asking for a provisional fare hike of P1 and other fare adjustments for both traditional and modern jeepneys. —VAL, GMA Integrated News