DOTr chief confirms looming fare hike

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Wednesday confirmed that there would be a fare hike, however, transport agencies need to “recompute” the final amount.

''Mayroong nakabinbin na petisyon, the process usually is for the LTFRB to make a recommendation. They submitted a recommendation po sa DOTr, binalik ko po yesterday. Sabi ko you have to recompute your numbers, you have to recrunch your numbers, mukhang hindi tugma,'' Lopez said in an interview with Palace reporters. 

(There's a pending petition, the process usually is for the LTFRB to make a recommendation. They submitted a recommendation to DOTr and I returned it yesterday. I told them that they need to recom[ute and recrunch the numbers.)

Lopez said the LTFRB would resubmit the recommendation within the week. 

This fare hike comes amid the escalating tension in the Middle East, which gravely affects oil prices worldwide. 

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. already ordered the immediate release of P5,000 cash assistance for public utility vehicle drivers to ease their burden on oil price shocks. 

The rollout will begin next week in Metro Manila. —AOL, GMA Integrated News