P1.50 jeepney fare hike mulled

A TRANSPORT group is proposing a P1.50 jeepney fare hike as the price of diesel surpassed P46 per liter.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, head of the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (Citrasco) and chairman of the 1-United Transport Kaolisyon (1-UTAK) in Central Visayas, said the increase in minimum jeepney fare is just fair as the series of price increases has already hit bad the income of jeepney drivers and operators.

If the increase is approved the minimum jeepney fare would P9 fare from the current P7.50.

The latest oil price increase was implemented last August 28, wherein oil companies implemented price increase by P0.75 per liter for diesel, gasoline by P0.25 per liter and kerosene by P0.60 per liter.

“Sakit ug bug-at na gyud na para sa atong mga drivers”, he said.

(It is already a very big burden to our drivers.)

Yu said if the trend will continue, drivers will be suffering more because their daily income will decrease.

Yu said the members of his group will be meeting this weekend to discuss the proposed fare hike. They will file the petition for fare increase by Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

Meanwhile, Yu said his group will support newly appointed Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph E. A. Abaya, a congressman from Cavite.

Abaya replaces Secretary Mar Roxas who will move over to the Dept. of Interior and Local Government to take over the post of the late Jesse Robredo.

Yu said they are just hopeful, Abaya will always look for the welfare of the public utility drivers.

“We will be supporting him, ang atong gihangyo, tan-awon ang welfare sa mga driver sa pampublikong sakyanan,” Yu added.