4 transport groups drop bid for P1 provisional fare hike

At least four transport groups have dropped their appeal for a P1 provisional increase in minimum fare following a meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Super Radyo dzBB's Allan Gatus reported on Thursday.

The report quoted Pasang Masda national president Obet Martin as saying that the decision was reached after Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade warned them of possible inflation in case of a fare increase.

Tugade reportedly convinced the transport groups not to push for minimum fare hike by saying that the government has now doubled the fuel subsidy funds for drivers and operators to P5 billion.

According to the report, P13,000 fuel subsidy will be given to each beneficiary, which will be released in two tranches, this March and April.

Meanwhile, the report added that traditional jeepneys will be part of the service contracting program of the government.

The transport groups who participated in the meeting with the DOTr were Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines(ALTODAP), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO), and 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK).

The petition for minimum fare increase came amid a series of bigtime fuel price hikes.

DOE

Energy Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza said his department in October 2021 formally asked Congress to suspend the excise tax when the oil price reached $80 per barrel to ease its impact.

“Nagkaroon nga po ng hearings noong Oktubre at nagkaroon din ng TWG report ang Ways and Means Committee pero hindi rin ho nakausad at hindi rin ho natapos,” he said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

(We had hearing in October at a TWG report from Ways and Means Committee but it did not progress.)

Aside from this, Erguiza said the Department of Energy last October also issued a circular on the unbundling of oil prices where the department could question the factors considered for the increase in prices.

However, the circular was met with a complaint, resulting in a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that stopped it from being implemented.

Due to this, the DOE requested Congress for a legislation on unbundling, he said.

Asked about the reason why the fuel price in provinces is higher, Erguiza said there is a price range for fuel products and encouraged the public to report overpricing.

“Meron pong price range yan. Siyempre meron namang computation yan na lumalabas based on the increase (It has a price range. Of course, there is a computation based on the increase),” he said.

“Kung meron nakikita sila na masyadong mataas, i-report po nila  sa amin at aming pong titingnan at ipapa-investigate (If they encounter overpriced fuel, they may report it to us and we will investigate into it),” he added. —KBK, GMA News