Commuters’ Group: Minimum Jeep Fare Shouldn’t Be Over P12
The National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection said a P15 to P16 minimum fare would be a “bitter pill” for commuters, especially with inflation hitting the prices of most basic commodities.
A commuters’ group said it is amenable to a fare hike for public utility jeepneys (PUJ) as long as it does not go beyond P12 for the minimum fare.
Elvira Medina, chair of the National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection, said the group recognizes the impact of fuel price increases on transport workers, but any fare hike should also be cognizant of the welfare of the riding public.
“If P12, it’s equitable because it’s still in the range of the higher minimum wage,” she said in Filipino in an interview on One News’ “The Chiefs” on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
However, Medina said they will draw the line if the petitioned P4 to P5 increase in minimum fare would be granted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Medina noted that such a fare hike would be too heavy as most commuters take an average of three rides on their way to work or school.
She said that a P15 to P16 minimum fare would be a “bitter pill” for commuters, especially with inflation hitting the prices of most basic commodities.
She noted that a one-peso increase in fares results in a 0.3 percent increase in the country’s inflation rate, citing data from the National Economic and Development Authority.
“NEDA is saying that for every peso increase is a 0.3 percent hike in rates. If there is an increase in P5, this will be .15 percent in inflation rate. That’s a very big domino effect,” she said.
Medina also criticized some PUJ operators for their inaction on modernization efforts, saying that old jeepneys can only cover about four kilometers per liter compared to modernized jeepneys that can go up to 12 kms per liter.
The LTFRB earlier said they are inclined to grant the next round of fare hikes for jeepney but they have yet to decide how much to give to jeepney drivers and operators.
The board has seven petitions for fare hikes in its docket filed by multiple transport groups operating fleets of jeepneys, buses, transport network vehicle service or TNVS, taxis, P2P or point-to-point shuttle buses and UV Express vehicles.
