Jeepney operators will ask the government for a one-peso increase in minimum fares today amid spiraling fuel prices and rising inflation.
The petition, Pasang Masda group president Roberto Martin explained in a television interview, would ask for a provisional increase of more than P1 for the first four kilometers and a scaled increase for every succeeding kilometer.
Traditional jeepneys charge a minimum P9 fare while modern or e-jeepneys charge P11 minimum. They were briefly at P12 and P14 minimum, respectively, until the government ordered the fares rolled back in April.
“To our commuters, we ask for your understanding. We hope you empathize with the plight of our members in the transport sector,” Martin said.
Meanwhile, taxi operators again petitioned the government to raise the flag-down rate from P40 to P70 as the price of gasoline rose for the sixth consecutive week.
The president of the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association, Emmanuel Jesus Suntay, said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulator Board (LTFRB) has yet to act on their request to raise the flag-down rate.
“In fact, our appeal, the original petition, has been pending way back in 2021,” he said.
The last time they were granted an increase was in 2017 when the price of gasoline was only P34 to P38 per liter. It now stands at about P68 a liter.
Also, motorists traversing the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) will pay more starting Aug. 21 as the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved its rate adjustments.
In a statement, Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) said the toll hike – which is allowed every three years – ranges from ₱2 to ₱25.
Pump prices went up by as much as P1.10 per liter for gasoline, P0.70 per liter for kerosene and P0.20 per liter of diesel effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.
Seaoil Philippines, Jetti Petroleum, Cleanfuel, and PetroGazz issued separate advisories of the latest oil price hike.
This will be the sixth consecutive weekly price hike for gasoline and the seventh for diesel and kerosene.
The LTFRB approved a fare increase of P5 for taxis but taxi operators did not implement the increase since they were asking for an additional P30 to the flag-down rate.
Suntay said the “boundary” for taxis is still at P900 to P1,300 for 15 years.
“We want a fare increase so that our drivers will earn. If our drivers will earn, they will go out and drive. If that is the case, the operators will also earn,” he said.
The Department of Energy (DOE) director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rodela Romero said the recent oil price hike can be attributed to the economic slowdown of China and the gradual decline in demand; signs of resurgence of US inflation; and a stronger dollar.
On Aug. 15, the oil companies raised the price of gasoline by P1.90 per liter, diesel by P1.50 per liter, and kerosene by P2.50 per liter.
These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P13.40 per liter for gasoline, P8.60 per liter for diesel, and P5.14 per liter for kerosene.
On Monday, Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, urged the government to immediately release funds allocated for a fuel subsidy as pump prices continued to rise.
“We understand that this is an added burden to our drivers and operators, the rise in the price of gasoline and diesel,” she said.
On the other hand, if fares are increased, it would be another burden on the commuting public.
“Can the commuters bear another fare increase [similar to what] happened just last year?” Poe said.
She said both the Department of Transportation and LTFRB must look at other alternatives to help both the PUV sector and commuters.
Poe said Congress has allocated P3 billion for fuel subsidies in the 2023 budget, but these funds have yet to be used.
She pointed out that the DoTr must immediately issue the memorandum circulars and execute the memorandum of agreement necessary for the release of the long overdue fuel subsidy.
“We are also renewing our call to the executive department, particularly to the Department of Finance, to suspend the excise tax on fuel and petroleum products until prices stabilize,” she said.
“I will file it in every Congress and will do so again in the future if necessary,” Poe said.
CIC, together with the Philippine Reclamation Authority, said the company filed its petition for approval of periodic toll rate adjustments for R-1 Expressway (Seaside to Zapote) and R-1 Expressway Extension, Segment 4 (Zapote to Kawit) before the TRB in 2017.
Beginning Aug. 21, the following toll rates would take effect:
R1 (Seaside to Zapote)
– Class 1 vehicles (regular cars and SUVs) From ₱33 to ₱35
– Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks) From ₱67 to ₱70
– Class 3 vehicles (large trucks) From ₱100 to ₱104
R1 Extension, Segment 4 (Zapote to Kawit)
– Class 1 vehicles (regular cars and SUVs) From ₱64 to ₱73
– Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks) From ₱129 to ₱146
– Class 3 vehicles (large trucks) From ₱194 to ₱219
In a separate statement, the TRB said this was decided after “an exhaustive review and compliance by CIC and PRA on the procedures and requirements set.”
To soften the impact on public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators, CIC said it would reactivate its Abante Card program, allowing them to pay for the old toll rates for a few months.