Another P1.50 jeepney fare increase sought
By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:35:00 07/19/2008
Filed Under: Oil & Gas - Downstream activities, Transport, Road Transport, Consumer Issues
MANILA, Philippines -- New fuel price increases over the weekend have prompted the militant jeepney group, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston or United Organization of Drivers and Transport Operators Nationwide), to seek another P1.50-fare increase and a government ban on further oil price hikes.
Piston secretary general George San Mateo said in a text message that the group would submit the new fare hike petition to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) next week.
"Price increases this year have reached a total of P22 for diesel and P16.50 for gasoline. Diesel prices have hit P59 per liter and gasoline P64 per liter, making the latest increase in the minimum jeepney fare to P8.50 useless," San Mateo said to explain Piston's call for another fare hike.
"We are also appealing to government to suspend the oil deregulation law and impose a moratorium on oil price hikes while the joint task force of the Department of Energy and the Department of Justice are investigating the profiteering, overpricing, transfer policy, and manipulated increases done by oil companies as reported by the IBON Foundation," he said.
Quoting the IBON report, San Mateo claimed that oil companies have been overpricing fuel products by as much as P12 per liter.
San Mateo also hit the present administration for not declaring new wage hikes for government workers and minimum wage earners in the private sector, who make up most jeepney passengers.
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