P20 base fare increase not enough amid rising fuel prices —Laban TNVS

A P20 increase in the base fare for transport network vehicle service (TNVS) is not enough to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict, a drivers’ group said Wednesday.

“Hindi po ito sasapat dahil sobra po ang pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina at diesel,” Laban TNVS president Jun de Leon told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(This will not be enough because the price of gasoline and diesel has increased too much)

According to him, the fare hike may provide some relief but it does little to offset the steep increase in operating costs.

“Sa loob ng 18 hours na biyahe, P300 lang ang naiuwi ng ibang mga drivers,” he said.

(In an 18-hour trip, some drivers only took home P300.)

De Leon added that drivers are losing around P500 daily due to higher fuel costs, which affects their income and family budgets.

He also expressed concern that further fare increases could discourage passengers from booking TNVS rides.

For De Leon, the government’s 5,000 cash aid for TNVS drivers is not enough. According to him, this amount could be depleted in just a few days.

“Ang P5,000 po ngayon napakaliit na pera po 'yan. Isang full tank ngayon umaabot siya ng 3,000,” De Leon said.

(P5,000 now is very little money. A full tank now costs P3,000.)

To help ease the burden, the group said its TNVS operators are considering reducing drivers’ boundary fees from P1,000-P1,100 down to P800-P900.

De Leon warned that without substantial intervention, more drivers may be forced to stop operating, affecting the availability of TNVS rides on the road.

20% TNVS drivers

He noted that almost 20% of drivers from their group have returned their vehicles and are choosing to stop operating due to mounting losses.

“Sa amin lang po, talagang nagsasauli na po ng sasakyan, nagsu-surrender na ng sasakyan 'yung mga driver gawa ng pagkalugi po ang kanilang nahahanap, hindi hanapbuhay,” De Leon said.

(For our group, drivers are actually returning their vehicles, surrendering their vehicles because it was no longer profitable to operate.)

“Halos 20% ang nagsauli,” he added.

(Almost 20% have returned their vehicles.)

Fuel prices continue to rise due to tensions in the Middle East. According to the Department of Energy on Monday, diesel prices may reach as high as P114 per liter as oil companies implement another round of major fuel price hikes this week.

The DOE earlier announced the following fuel price adjustments for March 17 to March 23:

• Diesel: P20.40 to P23.90 per liter
• Gasoline: P12.90 to P16.60 per liter
• Kerosene: P6.90 to P8.90 per liter

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Tuesday fare hikes in almost all public utility vehicles. 

• Tradition PUJ - P1  increase on base fare for the first four kilometers, bringing the minimum to P14 from P13, plus 20 centavos hike per succeeding kilometer to a rate of P2 from P1.80 per kilometer charge
• Modern PUJ -  P2 hike on minimum base fare to P17 from P15, plus 20 centavos increase for succeeding kilometers to a rate of P2.40 from P2.20 per kilometer travel charge
• Metro/City bus (ordinary) - P2 hike for first five kilometers to base fare of P15 from P13; plus 24 centavos increase in per succeeding kilometer charge to P2.49 from P2.25
• Metro/City bus (aircon) - P3 increase on base fare to P18 from P15; plus 33 centavos hike in per succeeding kilometer charge to P2.98 from P2.65
• Provincial bus (ordinary) - P1 hike on minimum fare to P12 from P11; plus 30 centavos increase in succeeding per kilometer charge to P2.20 from P1.90
• Provincial bus (aircon) - 35 centavos  
• increase in succeeding per kilometer charge to P2.45 from P2.10
• Provincial bus (deluxe) - 35 centavos hike in per kilometer charge to P2.60 from P2.25
• Provincial bus (super deluxe) - 35 centavos increase in per kilometer charge to P2.70 from P2.35
• Provincial bus (luxury) - 45 increase centavos per kilometer charge to P3.35 from P2.90
• Airport taxi - P40 increase on flagdown rate to P115 from P75
• TNVS - (Sedan) - P20 hike on base fare to P65 from P45
• TNVS (AUV/SUV) - P20 increase on base fare to P55 from P35
• TNVS (Premium) - P20 increase on base fare to P165 from P145
• P2P - 15% increase based on existing fare on the existing fare on the route 

LTFRB chairman Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said increasing the fare was a “balancing act” that put premium on the sustainability of public utility vehicles amid increase in the prices of fuel, particularly diesel.

Transportation groups were divided on the fare increase with MANIBELA, PISTON, and FEJODAP saying it is not enough while TNVS Community Philippines, United Transportation Coalition Philippines, Inc. (UTCP), and Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) welcomed it. —AOL, GMA Integrated News