Citing that a possible hike might also cause a the inflation rate to go up in the next two years.
On Friday, December 5, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that it has decided to not grant the P1 to P2 increase in fares for traditional at modern jeepney.
This, as a big time rollback on diesel prices occurred in the past few days.
According to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the implementation of a fare hike is untimely. “Malaki ang magiging epekto ng taas pasahe sa ekonomiya at sa pangkalahatan, lalo na’t bumabangon pa lang ang ilang probinsyang nasalanta mula sa matinding kalamidad tulad ng nakaraang lindol at bagyo.”
He also noted that the hike would not only affect commuters and their families, but also the families of the drivers and operators as the fare increase will ultimately result to price increase in basic goods.
Meanwhile, LTFRB Chairperson Vigor Mendoza, noted that at least five regions might oppose any increase in base fare on jeepneys, including Region III (Central Luzon), Region IV-A (CALABARZON), Regional V (Bicol Region), Region VII (Central Visayas) and the National Capital Region (or Metro Manila), which were heavily affected by recent calamities.
In the dialog led by the LTFRB, it was seen that even transport groups are apprehensive about the fare hike. For its part, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) also said that a fare hike might also drive up inflation rate in the next two years.
Instead, the DOTr and LTFRB are finding alternative ways to help drivers, operators, amd commuters. One of their ideas is to strengthen the campaign against colorum vehicles.
The agencies will form an Anti-Colorum Task Force, in partnership with the Department of Justice (DOJ) at Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), to hunt protectors and syndicates behind the illegal operations.
As per the DOTr, up to 30 percent of the daily profit of legitimate Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators went to colorum operators.
“Hahabulin at huhulihin natin ang mga sangkot sa ilegal na operasyong ito. Hindi titigil ang DOTr at LTFRB sa pagtugis sa inyo dahil kapakanan ng mga lehitimong PUV drivers, at maging mga commuter ang nakasalalay dito,” said Secretary Lopez.
Rather than insisting on doing the practice, Secretary Lopez at Chairman Mendoza encouraged colorum vehicles to become legal and take advantage of the 17,000 slots available for Transport Network Vehicle Service o TNVS program.
“Magandang pagkakataon ito para talikuran ang ilegal na gawain. Tinitiyak namin na magiging patas at mabilis ang proseso. Mas mabuti na ito kaysa palaging mabuhay sa takot na mahuli, makulong, at magmulta ng malaki,” noted Mendoza.