Thursday, July 10, 2008 Gov't rejects another fare hike
EXECUTIVE Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Wednesday turned down the call of some transportation groups to seek another round of fare increases.
Last Tuesday, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) board approved the P1 to P10 increase in the minimum fares of the different public utility vehicles (PUVs).
According to Ermita, last Tuesday's fare increase would be enough.
"The latest fare increase has yet to be implemented and felt by the public. We have to consider many things and I think we need to rationalize all the conditions obtaining at specific times," he said.
Fare for jeepneys would be raised to P8.50 while fares for non-aircon buses would be P10. Fares for air-conditioned buses would be raised by as much as 20 percent while a P10 add to the taxi fare would also be observed.
The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it is already preparing the fare matrix and expects to implement the new fares either by Thursday or Friday.
The Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide and the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines are asking to raise minimum fare to at least P10 believing that the increase is already late and small. (JMR/Sunnex)
