DOTr: Fare hike still suspended amid oil price hikes

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the oil price hikes and inflation, fare hikes on all public utility vehicles (PUV) will remain suspended, according to Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez.

Despite new pending petitions, Lopez stood his ground, stressing that the burden should not be put on the people.

“The President told us, especially now that oil prices are not stable. With these kinds of problems, the government should resolve the issue,” Lopez said. “We should not put the burden to the commuting public. And we know the problem right now with the temporary restraining order on wage hike.”

Lopez noted how the country is still struggling with inflation.

“That 6.2 percent inflation is high and the President and the economic leaders are still managing the inflation. If the fare increases, not only will inflation increase, the prices of services and goods will also increase,” Lopez said.

The hearing on the petitions for a fare hike will resume on Monday, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

LTFRB said experts and commuters would be consulted on the issue and might take weeks to complete.

To ease the burden on PUV drivers in the meantime, the fuel subsidy was raised to P12 per liter.

This was P2 higher than the original P10/L fuel subsidy in April but significantly lower compared to LTFRB’s P20/L proposal.

Aside from the subsidy, the transportation department said the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange terminal fee waiver for PUVs was extended until the end of the year.

Provincial buses would also receive toll discounts or exemptions in the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway starting Aug. 10, it added.

The monthly terminal fee is waived in 86 SM public transport terminals nationwide starting Aug. 15.

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