PUJ drivers ask for provisional hike

Public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday to give them at least a provisional fare hike.

As the petition of the PUJ drivers for a P2 fare increase is still up for resolution, driver groups asked the board to grant a P1 increase as they wait for the decision.

However, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said the board has yet to make a final decision on whether to approve the new petition in a special board meeting.

“We did not decide to grant the provisional increase at least as of today. We will discuss that on a special board meeting,” Delgra said in an interview shortly after a hearing on PUJ fare hike.

Delgra said the special board meeting will probably be held this week, if not, next week.

According to Delgra, the reason why the board could not make a decision during the hearing was because the petitioners have just submitted their revised petition.

“If you recall in the last hearing, two to three hearings ago, there was already a call because they mentioned that they were going to amend their petition,” Delgra said.

“We gave them the opportunity to amend their petition, and then up to which, the last time ganun din ang nangyari, na wala naman silang naibigay,” he added.

“Ngayon araw lang talaga naibigay, so that’s the reason we need to discuss that,” he continued.

Under the new petition of the drivers, a P1 peso increase is needed as they wait for the board to come up with the decision on the P2 fare hike.

Delgra, for the LTFRB side, said the P1 increase is still not yet final because the board has still to consider some factors such as the increasing price of fuel.

Currently, the minimum fare of the riding public is P8 for the first four kilometers of the trip.   /vvp