Fare hike petitions are under review, LTFRB says

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday said it is now studying the petitions for fare increase for jeepneys, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), and buses.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, LTFRB executive director Tina Cassion was asked about the petition to increase the minimum fare in jeepneys to P14 or P15.

“Ang isinasaalang-alang ng ating board in balancing interests, unang-unang yung economic viability ng operators amid the rising cost of fuel,” she said.

(The board is considering in balancing interests, first, the economic viability of our operators  amid the rising cost of fuel.)

“Of course, yung sa commuters naman po na side because the burden would be passed on them, yung kakayahan naman nila magbayad,” she added.

(Of course on the side of the commuters, because the burden would be passed on them, is their capacity to pay.)

Cassion said the possible effect on inflation will also be considered in the decision of the board.

On June 8, the LTFRB approved a P1 provisional increase on the minimum fare of public utility jeepneys, pushing the minimum fare to P10.

For TNVS, Grab petitioned for the LTFRB to increase its flagdown fare by around P20.

Meanwhile, city and provincial bus operators also requested for a P4 to P7 increase that would push the minimum fare to P15 to P20.

Cassion clarified that the LTFRB has not received any formal petition from taxi drivers.

Interviewed on GTV’s Balitanghali, Cassion said the decision on the petition of jeepney and TNVS operators will be finalized after their final hearings on June 28 and 29 respectively. —LBG, GMA News