The National Economic and Development Authority will review the request of various transport groups for a P2 fare adjustment for possible impact on the economy, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Tuesday.
“We just want to ensure our PUJ [public utility jeepney] drivers and operators nationwide that their pleas for fare adjustment does not fall on deaf ears,” LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said.
“We are well aware and continue to hear their plight amid the continuing oil price hikes and their difficulty in earning enough for their families,” he said.
He said upon review and validation by the board, the petition would still undergo further review, particularly by other economic agencies in government such as NEDA.
“Every fare increase has an economic impact and that is what has to be studied carefully by other government agencies such as the NEDA in order to come up with a fare increase that is justifiable and will not create a huge economic burden,” said Guadiz.
Several transport groups such as the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, Pagkakaisa ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide, Stop & Go Transport Coalition Inc. and The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines submitted a letter request to the LTFRB for a P2 fare increase for all PUJs nationwide.
The groups cited the spate of weekly oil price hikes as the reason for fare adjustment.