TRANSPORT groups in Negros Occidental called anew for fare increase in the wake of the continuous upward adjustments in fuel prices.
Jessie Ortega, secretary-general of Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators ng Negros (Sstone), said Thursday, September 14, that they have the reason to push for the pending petition with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Western Visayas seeking a fare increase.
Ortega said they are asking for an increase from P6.50 to P7.50 or P8.
Diego Malacad, secretary-general of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center, said that initially, they were planning to stage a strike, but decided instead to demand for a fare increase because the drivers already felt the impact of the continuous increases in fuel prices.
It has been the ninth straight week that oil companies increased gasoline prices and the third consecutive week for diesel and kerosene prices.
Gasoline and diesel prices were raised by P0.40 per liter and kerosene prices by P0.50 per liter.
Malacad said they are asking that the fare will be readjusted to P7.50, which was already imposed in previous months by the LTFRB.