MANILA, Philippines — Commuters will pay higher public utility vehicle fares starting Monday as two major transport groups prepare for separate strikes over fuel costs and what they consider inadequate fare increases.
The government will lift the suspension of fare increases that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved in March.
Manibela president Mar Valbuena said more than 20,000 members in Metro Manila, including jeepney, UV Express, motorcycle taxi and transport network vehicle drivers, will join the group’s strike from Monday through Wednesday.
“Our protest will still push through because our request is for a P2 fare increase,” Valbuena said Sunday in an interview with dzBB.
He said the government still owes drivers the fare increases that remained suspended for six months and urged officials to approve the full P2 increase the group requested.
The approved adjustment raises the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys from P13 to P14 and for modern jeepneys from P15 to P17. The succeeding kilometer rates will also increase.
Valbuena said the P1 increase for traditional jeepneys does not offset higher diesel prices, which he said have increased by a net P50 per liter.
He said a driver who consumes 30 liters of diesel a day could lose about P1,500 in income from the higher fuel costs.
Oil companies raised pump prices last week, increasing diesel prices by P8.82 per liter to an average of P103, gasoline by P4.88 to P98 and kerosene by P6.47 to P130.
Piston will hold its own strike from Tuesday through Wednesday and expects between 70,000 and 100,000 participants, including workers’ groups, urban poor organizations and commuters.
Piston leader Mody Floranda questioned the impact of recent fuel price rollbacks and said motorists could face further increases in the coming weeks.
Piston has called for the removal of value-added and other taxes on diesel and gasoline.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 125 on Friday, suspending the excise tax only on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene.
The government has instead committed to targeted subsidies and financial assistance for affected transport workers.
LTFRB warns against overcharging
LTFRB Chair Greg Pua Jr. said drivers can collect the new fares even without physical copies of the official fare matrix. Drivers can download the fare guide from the agency’s website.
The guide lists the fares based on travel distance, fare denominations and applicable discounts.
Pua warned drivers against collecting more than the approved fares and said the LTFRB will deploy “mystery riders” to monitor compliance.
He said the agency could suspend or cancel franchises of drivers who violate the prescribed fares.
Fare dispute dates to March
The dispute began in February, when the LTFRB considered petitions seeking an additional P2 increase for jeepneys.
The LTFRB approved fare increases for jeepneys, buses, airport taxis and transport network vehicle services on March 17.
Marcos suspended the increases the following day, one day before they were scheduled to take effect, citing the global crisis. He instead promised free rides, transport discounts and increased cash and fuel subsidies.
Piston sought a P10 jeepney fare increase in April, citing continued losses from higher fuel prices.
The government began reviewing whether to lift the suspension in July as fuel prices increased again.
Manibela renewed its call for higher fares on Sept. 22. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the government should consider subsidies first and warned that higher transport costs could increase prices of goods and services.
Lopez said he hoped a fare increase would remain a “last resort.”
The Department of Transportation approved the LTFRB’s recommendation to lift the suspension on Sept. 25, putting the new fares into effect Monday.
“It is timely to implement this fare increase to also ensure that there are enough PUVs on the roads and that commuters have available transportation,” Lopez said.