MANILA, Philippines - A group of passenger jeepney operators and drivers is seeking a 50-centavo fare hike that would bring back the Metro Manila minimum fare to P7.50 for the first four kilometers in jeepney routes.

This developed even as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced the possible phase-out of passenger utility jeepneys and the reduction of passenger buses along EDSA upon the completion of the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 3 links.

In Sunday’s “Balitaan sa Tinapayan” news forum, Pasang Masda president Roberto Martin revealed that they have filed a petition with the LTFRB in view of the increasing pump prices of diesel.

Martin appealed to the public for understanding, and said that aside from the increasing prices of fuel, their other reason for filing th petition was the refusal of the Big 3 oil companies -- Chevron Philippines Incorporated (formerly Caltex Philippines Incorporated), Petron Corporation and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation -- to open their books of account to audit by the government agencies.

In their petition, the Pasang Masda asked the LTFRB to bring back the 50 centavos removed from the passenger jeepney minimum fare in February, when the prices of diesel went down to P24 a liter.

LTFRB Chairman Alberto Suansing, who was present at the forum, assured the transport group of a hearing next month.

Meanwhile, Suansing said that the passenger jeepneys plying the EDSA route would be phased out and the number of passenger buses reduced upon the completion of the link between the LRT Line 1 and 3 and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) by January 2010.

Suansing explained that since the time of President Marcos, PUJs have been prohibited from plying the EDSA route. He stressed that the completion of the LRT and MRT connection would, in itself, render the PUJ routes along EDSA impractical for the riding public.

A dry-run of the LRT-MRT link train would be implemented by December this year, he revealed.