MANILA, Philippines—The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has deferred its decision on requests for hikes in the fares of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators in the wake of rising fuel prices.
This came as militant groups geared for concerted protest actions on Thursday to call for the scrapping of value-added taxes on fuel.
Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Unified Organization of Drivers and Transport Operators Nationwide), or Piston, said about 50 PUVs, which include metered taxis and jeepneys, have agreed to participate in Thursday’s “transport caravan” from Quezon City to the head office of Chevron Philippines in Makati City.
Piston earlier said it would ask the LTFRB for a P1 hike in fares, higher than the 50-centavo adjustment the government was expected to approve.
“Our goal is to help PUV drivers and their families cope with the rise in the prices of oil and other basic commodities,” Piston national president George San Mateo said in a statement.
‘Not transport strike’
San Mateo clarified that the group’s protests on Thursday would not turn out as a transport “strike” and that jeepneys around the country would not abandon their routes.
Earlier, congressional party list 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) and transport groups Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap) and Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) filed a joint petition for an increase in fares by P2. This would bring the current minimum jeepney passenger fare to P10.
On Wednesday, the LTFRB said it was still deliberating the fare hike petitions filed by various jeepney and bus driver and operator groups to determine the necessity of the adjustments.
LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said the regulator would discuss the petitions and would likely have a decision before the end of the week. Iway did not rule out the possibility of the requests being denied should transport groups fail to prove the urgency of the need to adjust rates.
Data from the Department of Energy showed that diesel prices have risen by about P3.20 to P48 per liter since the start of the year. Gasoline pump prices have risen by P6 to P58 per liter in the same period.