P1 fare hike across PUVs not enough, says transport group

The approved one peso fare hike in all public utility vehicles amid the soaring fuel prices is not enough, said transport group MANIBELA.

MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena jested that those who are begging for alms in jeepneys would earn more than the drivers themselves.

“Pisong taas pasahe, daig pa tayo ng mga Badjao na sumasabit sa jeep sa panlilimos walang konsumo sa krudo pero kumikita. Masusi pang pinag-aralan ng gobyerno sa lagay na ‘yan, limos ang ibinigay!” he said in a Facebook post.

(A one-peso fare hike? Even the Badjao people who hang onto the back of jeeps to beg for alms have it better than us — they don't spend their money on fuel, yet they earn. And to think the government studied this thoroughly; what they gave us was just loose change!)

The fare increase, which will take effect on Thursday, March 19, is a “balancing act” amid the increase in fuel prices, particularly diesel, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.

Under the fare increase, there will be a P1 increase on the base fare of traditional public utility jeepneys for the first four kilometers, bringing the minimum fare from P13 to P14. There is also an additional 20 centavos hike per succeeding kilometer to a rate of P2 from P1.80 per kilometer charge.

However, a two-peso fare hike will be imposed on the minimum base fare of modern jeepneys, increasing the basic fare from P15 to P17.

The fare hike does not cover regular taxis and motorcycle taxis.

MANIBELA earlier sought for a two-peso fare increase on traditional jeepneys, noting that many drivers have been losing P400 to P500 in daily income due to the recent fuel price hikes.

Public transport drivers have been forced to adopt alternate driving schedules to avoid competing for passengers, especially during off-peak hours when ridership is low.

Public hearing on fare hike petition takes time

Likewise, the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) said that the one peso fare hike is not enough.

“Sa part ng FEJODAP, ito po ay kulang, ang piso. Siguro sa dalawang piso, ay break even na kami doon sa P2 para doon sa kino-konsumo namin araw-araw na krudo,” said FEJODAP national president Deo Sotto in Super Radyo dzBB.

(On FEJODAP's part, a peso is insufficient. Perhaps at P2, we would at least break even considering the fuel we consume every day.)

As much as they want to appeal for another increase, Sotto said the process would take long again.

“Kung magre-request kami, another petition for fare increase so dadaan na naman ‘yan sa hearing. So tatagal na naman po bago maibigay yung hihingilin naming piso. Bakit di na po nila sinaktong dalawang piso, eh parehas lang namin ang kinokonsumo ng traditional at modernized [jeepney]?” he said.

(If we make a request, it requires another petition for a fare increase, so it will go through hearings all over again. It will take a long time before the extra peso we're asking for is granted. Why didn't they just make it exactly two pesos, especially since traditional and modernized jeepneys consume the same amount of fuel?)

Enough for now

On the other hand, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) said the one peso fare increase would be enough for now.

“Alam niyo po kahit papaano po ay may tulong ito. Kung halimbawa po, nakapagsakay ka ng kung 300 pasahero, mayroon pong P300 na dagdag,” said ALTODAP national president Melencio Vargas in Super Radyo dzBB.

(You know, this is still a help somehow. For example, if you manage to pick up 300 passengers, that’s an additional P300.)

“Pero sabi ko nga po sa inyo, titignan muna namin itong pisong itataas dahil ito po ay yung pinagkaloob ng LTFRB at DOTr. Kung ito po siguro ay nakita namin na hindi sapat, baka kami ay makipagugnayan ulit  sa LTFRB at sa DOTr,” he further noted.

(But as I said, we will monitor this P1 increase first since this is what the LTFRB and DOTr granted. If we see that it is not enough, we might coordinate with the LTFRB and DOTr again.)

LTFRB chairperson Vigor Mendoza II said approved fare increases were thoroughly deliberated and was supported by data and analysis, including that of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development.

Among the major considerations include the increase in maintenance and other operational costs from 7.54% during the last bus fare hike in 2022 to 54.29% in 2024. — BAP, GMA Integrated News