A P1 increase in the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys nationwide, which will take effect on Wednesday.

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATED) The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved on Monday a P1 increase in the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys nationwide, which will take effect on Wednesday.

The increase will bring the minimum fare in Luzon to P8 while the P6.50 minimum fare in Visayas and Mindanao will go up to P7.50.

The LTFRB said the increase is provisional and no longer requires public hearings or a 15-day publication period before it takes effect.

Public transport groups filed the petition for the increase citing soaring fuel costs.

"Pag provisional kasi, immediate ang pangangailan… Allowed sila humingi ng up to P8.50. Noong 2008 P8.50 na singil nila, bumaba langis kaya binaba. Ngayon tumataas na naman," explained LTFRB Chairman Nelson Laluces.

Public transport groups welcomed the LTFRB’s approval of their petition as they appealed to the public for understanding.

They also warned that if fuel prices continue to rise, they would seek a new increase as they blamed oil companies for the continuing fuel price hikes.



"Hindi pa rin ‘yan ang solusyon, pantawid gutom lang ito,” said George San Mateo, secretary-general of Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston).

They said that if fuel prices increase by another P10 per liter, they would seek another increase in minimum fares.

A commuters' group, meanwhile, protested the provisional increase given by the LTFRB and called for consultations to be launched.

The LTFRB earlier approved the increase in the taxi fares. It has started inspecting and calibrating taxi meters to allow operators to charge higher fares starting Monday last week.

The LTFRB, however, reminded the public that only properly calibrated taxi cabs, which have meters that can issue receipts, will be allowed to charge the higher P40 flag-down rate.
source: abs-cbnnews.com