Palace to commuters after fare hike : ‘Magtiis muna tayo’

Commuters should sacrifice for now following the increase in minimum jeepney and bus fares, Malacañang said Friday, assuring the public that the situation is just “temporary.”

“We have to accept the fact na talagang masama ang panahon, so magtiis muna tayo,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a radio dzRH interview.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved Thursday the increase in basic jeepney fare from P9 to P10 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and minimum bus fare from P10 to P11 in Metro Manila.

Panelo told reporters on Thursday that commuters should take the brunt of the fare increase, saying this is just temporary.

“The message as always, this is just temporary. So hopefully when everything settles down, we will return to normal,” he said in a Palace briefing. “We really have to take the brunt for now.”

Asked why commuters should sacrifice for now, the Palace official said there are things beyond the government’s control.

“Dahil nga hindi natin kontrolado ngayon iyong panahon kung saan nagtataasan ang presyo ng langis and apektado ang lahat, globally. But hopefully, that will taper down kasi history naman shows, bumababa rin naman ang presyo ng langis ‘di ba?,” he said.  /muf