Commuters’ group expects better services

MANILA, Philippines — A commuters’ group is calling on the transport sector to provide better services as the government started implementing a two-peso increase in jeepney fares, driving the minimum fare to P11 nationwide.

The Lawyers for Commuter’s Safety and Protection (LCSP) said that while the fare hike will be an added burden for many riders, providing added benefits to commuters can easily offset this.

Ariel Inton, LCSP head, said the fare hike would be fair for commuters if more public utility vehicle units operate and provide service even with the skyrocketing fuel prices.

“To us, it is fair. Of course to the commuters, it will be a little burden because they would have to pay more. We expect that more PUV units will operate because of the increase,” he said, adding that this will also result in less waiting time.

He cited data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which showed that over 5,000 jeepneys stopped operations due to the oil price hike.

Pasang Masda president Obet Martin said the fare hike is a big help in easing the burden of PUJ drivers and operators nationwide as he noted in a Net25 interview that this will lead to an increase in driver’s income of about P300 to P400 per day.

“We are happy. To a jeepney driver, one peso is already big enough to raise their income from P300 to P400 per day,” Martin said.

The LTFRB is set to conduct another hearing on July 27 on further fare hikes for the PUJ sector. – Ghio Ong, Elijah Felice Rosales