Jeepney drivers call for lower boundary rates after fare rollback

Jeepney drivers are calling for lower boundary rates after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved a P1 provisional decrease for jeep fares, a report on GMA News TV's “Balitanghali” said Friday.

According to the report, the fare rollback resulted in a P200 to P300 reduction in the daily take-home pay of jeepney drivers.

Because of this, jeepney drivers are complaining about the rate of their boundary, which is usually at P1,000, and are calling for lower rates.

“Titipirin na lang namin [ang kita]. 'Yun na lang ang gagawin kasi wala kaming magawa diyan [sa rollback],” jeepney driver Jerry Balindez said.

“Tama lang pambili ng isang kilong galunggong at tsaka dalawang kilong bigas 'yun. 'Yung ginagatas ng anak mo wala na, utang na lang,” another jeepney driver said.

Meanwhile, commuters welcomed the jeepney fare rollback.

“Maganda 'yun kasi para maka menos kami sa pamasahe sa araw-araw,” one commuter said in the same report.

“Dapat magbawas tayo kasi [ng gastusin] ang hirap na ngayon sa work natin. Paano na lang 'yung mahihirap?” another said.

Following the rollback, jeepney fare is now at P7.50, down from P8.50, for the first four kilometers. The adjustment was due to a series of rollbacks in the prices of fuel products. —Andrei Medina/KBK, GMA News