No automatic jeepney fare hike – LTFRB official

Jeepney drivers will have to go through the process and wait before raising jeepney fares, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2017. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / REM ZAMORA

Transport groups seeking a P12 minimum jeepney fare should justify their request and go through the process, an official of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Wednesday.

“Any fare hike for that matter whether jeep, bus, taxi goes through a process. Hindi po ‘yan agad agad nagkakaroon ng fare hike,” LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada Lizada told Radyo Inquirer.

“About 3.2 million passengers ang apektado, so very crucial. Kailangan nating balansehin,” she added.

Lizada said the LTFRB would hear the side of commuters before deciding on any fare increase.

“If they file a petition for fare increase they have to put their justification and we will hear the side of the commuters’ group as well,” she said.

Earlier, transport group Pasang Masda said it would seek P4 more on top of the current P8 base jeepney fare citing the higher excise tax for oil products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law.

Last year, some transport groups asked for a P10 minimum fare but decided to amend their petition and refile it in February 2018, Lizada said.

READ: Jeepney groups want basic fare raised to P10

Under the Train, an initial P2.50 per liter excise tax would be imposed on diesel this year, and it would gradually increase to P6 by 2020.

The Department of Trade and Industry said the new tax would not apply to existing stocks of petroleum products so fuel prices should not go up immediately. /cbb