UV Express operators, drivers seek fare hike

MANILA, Philippines — A group of UV Express operators and drivers yesterday filed a petition for a fare increase at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), citing the impact of the tax reform law and operating costs.

In a four-page petition, Code-X is seeking to double the fare for every kilometer from P2 to P4.

Code-X president Rosalino Marable filed the petition at the LTFRB’s main office in Quezon City at around 10:45 a.m.

Marable, in an interview with reporters, said they also want the minimum fare of P15 for the first four kilometers increased to P30.

He appealed for understanding from the public as their operators and drivers could no longer cope with the rising prices of fuel and spare parts.

“We have not sought an increase for the past 11 years,” Marable said.

Marable said they have around 10,000 members operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces such as Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite.

Aside from the  P2.50 in excise taxes imposed for every liter of fuel, increases in other operation costs have resulted in financial losses, especially for their drivers, he said.

Among these are the rising terminal fees, which increased from P2,000 in 2006 to P38,000 for every slot as of last year. The price of tires also increased, from P2,000 per tire in 2006 to P4,000 in 2017.

From P1,000 a day, Marable said daily earnings of drivers who spend 16 hours on the road went down to as low as P500.

“The UV Express sector can only bear so much. It can no longer carry on,” said Marable.

The LTFRB has yet comment on Code-X’s fare hike petition.