Transport strikes a go as fare hikes take effect

MANILA, Philippines — Commuters face higher fares beginning on Monday and at least three days of strike led by two major transport groups, as the government lifts the suspension of fare increases approved in March.

Public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators have expressed dissatisfaction over the fare increases as they called for bigger adjustments to offset soaring fuel and operating costs.

Mar Valbuena, president of transport group Manibela, said more than 20,000 members in Metro Manila, including jeepney, UV Express, motorcycle taxi and transport network vehicle drivers, would join the strike from Monday to Wednesday.

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“Our protest will still push through because our request is for a P2 fare increase,” Valbuena said on Sunday in an interview with dzBB.

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“The government still owes us for the [six] months that the approved fare hikes had been suspended. We are still asking the government to complete the P2 fare hike that we are requesting,” he said.

The approved increase raises the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys from P13 to P14 and for modern jeepneys from P15 to P17. Succeeding kilometer rates also increase.

Valbuena said the P1 increase for traditional jeepneys was inadequate against pump price increases amounting to a net P50 per liter for diesel.

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“At 30 liters that we consume in a day, that amounts to P1,500 in lost income for a driver. If you compare that with P1 or P2, regardless of how many times passengers ride, it is nowhere near the income that drivers are losing,” he said.

“We are asking for the understanding of the commuters because this is the real situation we are in,” Valbuena added.

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Oil companies raised pump prices sharply last week, pushing diesel up by P8.82 per liter to an average P103, gasoline by P4.88 to P98, and kerosene by P6.47 to P130.

Piston will stage its strike from Tuesday to Wednesday, expecting 70,000 to 100,000 participants, including workers’ groups, urban poor organizations and commuters.

“What is the point of the rollback being touted by the government and the oil companies? In the coming days or weeks, there will be new increases in fuel prices,” Piston leader Mody Floranda said.

“The Department of Energy admitted that the public will continue to experience the crisis in the oil industry until December. So there is nothing to brag about,” he added.

Piston has called for the removal of value-added and taxes on oil products, particularly diesel and gasoline. President Marcos, meanwhile, issued Executive Order No. 125 last Friday, suspending the excise only on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene.

The government has instead committed to targeted subsidies and financial assistance for affected transport workers.

LTFRB ‘mystery riders’

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said drivers may collect the approved fares even without physical copies of the fare matrix, and may instead download the fare guide from its website.

The fare guide shows the fare per kilometer, depending on the distance traveled by the passenger, as well as the different fare denominations and discounted fares.

“Our instruction is to make sure this can be implemented immediately by our transport workers and help them as soon as possible,” LTFRB Chair Greg Pua Jr. said.

Pua warned drivers against overcharging and said the agency would deploy “mystery riders” to monitor compliance.

“We will not hesitate to cancel or suspend your franchise if reports reach us, or if we find that you have violated the prescribed fares,” he said.

March suspension

The fare dispute dates back to February, when the LTFRB was considering petitions for an additional P2 increase for jeepneys. On March 17, it approved fare increases for jeepneys, buses, airport taxis and transport network vehicle service.

The next day, however, Mr. Marcos suspended the increases, which were to take effect March 19, citing the global crisis. He instead promised free rides, transport discounts and increased cash and fuel subsidies.

By April, Piston was seeking a P10 jeepney fare increase, citing sustained losses from high fuel prices. In July, the government began studying whether to lift the suspension as fuel prices rose again.

On Sept. 22, Manibela again pressed for a fare increase. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said subsidies should first be considered and warned that higher fares could push up prices of goods and services.

Lopez said he hoped a fare increase would be a “last resort.”

Three days later, the government reversed course.

On Sept. 25, the Department of Transportation approved the LTFRB recommendation to lift the March suspension, putting the new fares in effect on Sept. 28.

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“It is timely to implement this fare increase to also ensure that there are enough PUVs on the roads and that commuters have available transportation,” Lopez said. —With a report from Inquirer Research