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Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Hike in jeepney, bus fares approved
MANILA -- Jeepney and bus fares will go up by one to three pesos and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to announce the new fare rates soon.
A television report said the LTFRB has assured transport groups of a fare increase but has yet to reveal how much the agency had approved.
Felix Racadio, a board member of LTFRB, said P1 or P2 would be added to the current P5.50 minimum jeepney fare for the first four kilometers while the fare increase for buses would be between P1 and P3.
Racadio said they also approved an additional 25 centavos for every succeeding kilometer to the minimum fare.
The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Philippine Confederation of Drivers and Operators-Association of Concerned Transport Organizations (PCDO-Acto) and other transport groups earlier asked for a P2.50 increase in jeepney fare to allow drivers and operators to meet their daily needs and to cope with the spiraling cost of oil and its by-products.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza earlier ordered the LTFRB to rule on the petition for a fare hike following the April 18 nationwide transport strike that nearly paralyzed public transportation in Metro Manila and other key urban cities.
The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) earlier opposed a fare hike because it would only be an additional burden to the people as the group pushed instead for a rollback in oil prices, repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and nationalization of the oil industry. (JFF)
(May 4, 2005 issue)
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