The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday junked a petition to increase the minimum jeepney fare by P1 amid spiraling oil prices.
The LTFRB said it denied the provisional fare hike sought by transport groups 1-Utak, Pasang Masda, ALDTODAP, and ACTO.
“While it recognizes the present clamor of stakeholders in public land transportation services for necessary action relative to fare rates, they cannot be insensitive to the plight of Filipinos every time an increase on the prices of the commodities occurs, as a domino effect to the grant of fare increase,” the board said.
This means the minimum jeepney fare stays at P9.
The board said it took into consideration the argument of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) against passing on the burden of fare hikes to consumers.
NEDA said this may impact on inflation and “reduce the purchasing power of the general public.”
The LTFRB has started crediting fuel subsidies in the amount of P6,500 to PUVs and will continue distributing subsidies until the end of the month to 377,433 beneficiaries,.
The LTFRB will tackle on Tuesday a separate petition to increase the minimum fare from P9 to P14.
Earlier, the Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) Community—which has about 25,000 members—also appealed to the LTFRB to approve their petition for a P15 base fare increase.
“We can’t take it any longer. Our drivers’ take-home pay has become insufficient,” the group said.
The petition was filed in November 2021, but the LTFRB has yet to take action on it.