A group of Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers is seeking an increase in the base fare for booked rides from P45 to P70.
Laban TNVS President Jun De Leon, in a petition, explained that the group also wanted to raise the per-minute travel charge, citing the significant rise in oil prices over the past few years, the higher costs of vehicle maintenance, and inflationary factors impacting operational expenses.
“With the heavy traffic today, TNVS drivers are suffering huge losses. That’s why the P2 per minute rate should be increased to P3 per minute to at least help increase the earnings of TNVS drivers,” De Leon, quoted by ABS-CBN News said, during a protest outside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Quezon City.
The petition pointed out that fare rates for four-wheeled ride-hailing platforms have remained stagnant for five years.
“Traditional Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) like taxis, buses, and jeepneys have been granted fare increases, but TNVS fares have stayed the same for the last five years despite facing similar cost pressures,” the petition read.
“Since TNVS operates under the same economic conditions as other PUVs, it is only fair and just that TNVS fares be adjusted accordingly,” it added.