Jeepney drivers mull transport strike over fuel costs

A group of jeepney drivers and operators warned it might be forced to resort to a transport strike over the lack of government action to ease their plight amid the spiraling fuel prices.

According to Joseph Morong’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) said it filed a petition to increase by P2 the minimum fare in public utility vehicles.  However, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has yet to schedule a hearing.

“Hindi naman natin maantay na ibalik ang piso, na ideclare ni Chairman Delgra, so mag-one time, big time na rin tayo ng strike. Hindi na bale kaming mamatay sa giyera, huwag lang kaming mamatay sa gutom,” LTOP national president Orlando Marquez said.

“Yung piso na aming boluntaryo na ibinigay noong 2018, noong 2018 bumaba ang krudo kaya nagboluntaryo kami. Kumbaga sa sinturon higpit kami nang higpit eh mamatay na po kami,” he added.

GMA News sought the reaction of LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III but he has yet to respond.

As of Thursday, February 17, gasoline prices in Metro Manila ranged from P58.90 to P79.25 per liter depending on the brand and quality.  Diesel prices are from P52.15 to P64.68 per liter.

Jeepney drivers appealed to the national government to heed their call, saying their income from a day's work, usually just go to fuel.

“Wala na kaming kita pag pataas nang pataas,” jeepney driver Glen Calingasyon said.

“Biyahe kami nang biyahe, wala talo kami sa diesel,” another jeepney driver Gerardo Roquia said.

Delgra earlier said they are still waiting for the release of the allocated P2.5 billion for the Pantawid Pasada Program in the 2022 budget.

“Sa ibinigay na request ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) nasa 377,443 benepisaryo ang inaasahang mabibigyan ng fuel subsidy sa halagang P6,500,” the LTFRB said.

“Handa ang DOTr at LTFRB na ipagpatuloy ang fuel subsidy program na inaasahang sa April 2022 pa muling maipatutupad,” it added.

The LTFRB said there were 136,230 franchise grantees -- traditional and modern jeepneys -- who received P7,200 fuel subsidy under the Pantawid Pasada Program since it began in 2020.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News