LTFRB reviews fare hike petitions

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Thursday began deliberating on fare hike petitions filed by five major transport groups as rising fuel prices continue to drive up operating costs for public utility vehicles.

LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II said the board started reviewing all pending petitions following the directive of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to come up with recommendations at the soonest possible time.

The petitions cover passenger jeepneys, buses, UV Express units, taxis and motorcycle taxis. They were filed by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, Metro Comet Transport Service Cooperative, UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines, United Transportation Coalition of the Philippines and Manibela.

Mendoza said the board aims to determine fare adjustments that strike a balance between the needs of transport operators and the welfare of commuters, while taking into account inflation and the public’s capacity to pay.

He assured the public that the LTFRB would pursue measures that recognize the concerns of the transport sector without compromising the interests of commuters.

The board will also consult other stakeholders and concerned government agencies before submitting its recommendations to the Department of Transportation.

The review follows Lopez’s earlier order directing the LTFRB to recompute appropriate fare adjustments based on pending petitions, particularly those filed by Manibela and PISTON, and to issue a final resolution instead of granting interim fare increases.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. identified the transport sector as one of the hardest hit by volatile global fuel prices, prompting the government to roll out relief measures, including a ₱10-per-liter diesel subsidy for passenger jeepneys and UV Express units, cash assistance for more than 1.8 million drivers under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program, and the revival of the Service Contracting Program.