Fare hike, transport strike greet commuters Monday - GMA Network

A fare increase for public utility vehicles will take effect Monday, September 28, as transport groups Manibela and Piston push through with planned protests over rising fuel costs.

According to a "24 Oras Weekend" report by Bernadette Reyes, the fare hike was originally scheduled for March but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. deferred it amid the conflict in the Middle East and concerns over an oil price crisis.

Under the new rates approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the minimum fare for ordinary jeepneys will increase from P13 to P14 for the first four kilometers. The fare for every succeeding kilometer will rise to P2.

For modern public utility jeepneys, the minimum fare will increase to P17, with an additional P2.40 for every succeeding kilometer.

City bus fares will also go up. The minimum fare for ordinary city buses will rise to P15 for the first five kilometers, with an additional P2.49 per succeeding kilometer. For air-conditioned city buses, the minimum fare will increase to P18, with nearly P3 charged for every succeeding kilometer.

Provincial bus fares will increase by P2 to P3 per succeeding kilometer, depending on the type of bus.

UV Express fares will increase by P2.60 to P3 per succeeding kilometer.

Taxi flag-down rates will range from P65 to P90, depending on the type of taxi, but there will be no increase in the per-kilometer rate.

The flag-down rate for airport taxis will rise from P75 to P115, also with no change in the succeeding meter rate.

TNVS fares will likewise increase depending on the type of vehicle, while a P15 pickup fee per kilometer has also been approved. Fares for point-to-point buses will increase by 15%.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered operators to display the new fare matrices and continue providing discounts to students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Some drivers welcomed the fare increase, saying it would help offset higher fuel costs.

"Napupunta nang lahat sa diesel. Masaya po kami dahil makakadagdag po doon sa income," one driver said.

(Everything goes to paying for diesel. We are happy that the fare hike will increase our income.)

Provincial bus operator Victory Liner also welcomed the increase, saying it would help sustain operations amid high fuel prices. However, it acknowledged that the higher fares would add to the burden of passengers already dealing with rising prices of goods and services.

Some commuters said they had no choice but to cut back on their spending.

"Sa pagkain po, nabawasan po 'yun. Hindi na po nabibili 'yung... halos sa meryenda namin, hindi na kami nagmeryenda," one commuter said.

(Our food expenses were lessened. We could not buy... we also don't buy snacks anymore.)

Another commuter said that she would opt for cheaper food instead of eating at restaurants or buying coffee.

The fare increase comes after three consecutive weeks of significant oil price hikes. A rollback, however, is expected on Tuesday.

Despite the anticipated fuel price reduction, some transport groups will proceed with their planned protests.

Manibela is set to hold a transport strike from September 28 to 30, while PISTON will stage protests from September 29 to 30.

PISTON president Mory Floranda said the fare increase was insufficient to offset the fuel price increases since February.

"Mula po nu'ng February ay P50 na po 'yung pinatong sa bawat litro. Kaya 'yung piso ay halos hindi mararamdaman po 'yan ng ating mga driver at mga operator," Floranda said.

(Since February, P50 was added to the per liter price of fuel. So the P1 increase will not be felt much by our drivers and operators.)

Manibela president Mar Valbuena said the group would continue to call for a higher fare increase.

"Hiling pa rin natin sa ating gobyerno, sa LTFRB, DOTr, at sa Malacañang na kumpletuhin na 'yung dalawang piso na hinihingi po natin na dagdag-pasahe," he said.

(We ask the government, the LTFRB, the DOTr, and Malacañang to complete the P2 fare hike we have been asking for.) —MCG/KG, GMA News