CEBU, PHILIPPINES — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will bring in experts from key government agencies in the next hearing on the pending fare hike petitions to help determine an adjustment that would be fair to both public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and the riding public.
LTFRB Chairman Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, in a statement, said the board will invite representatives from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Energy (DOE) to provide technical assessments of the potential effects of any fare increase.
The move comes after the LTFRB held its initial hearing on Monday, August 3, where seven transport organizations presented their petitions for higher fares, citing the continued rise in fuel prices and increasing operating expenses.
Among the transport groups that filed or supported the petitions were PASANG MASDA, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Stop and Go Coalition, and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON).
Mendoza acknowledged that while the transport groups raised legitimate concerns over their operational costs and declining daily earnings, the board must also consider the broader impact of any fare adjustment.
“We all heard the concerns and arguments raised by the transport groups on their fare hike petitions. They are all valid and legitimate, and our task now is to validate the data they presented in terms of operational costs vis-à-vis their daily income and that of the drivers,” Mendoza said.
He said DEPDev will be asked to present its assessment on the economic implications of the proposed fare increase, particularly its effect on inflation and consumers’ purchasing power.
DOLE, meanwhile, is expected to discuss labor-related concerns affecting transport workers, while the DOE will provide updates on fuel price movements and their impact on motorists and public transport operators.
According to Mendoza, the board wants to ensure that any decision on the petitions is based not only on the transport sector’s needs but also on sound economic and technical data.
He also acknowledged the need to provide assistance to the PUV sector following the successive increases in fuel prices in recent weeks, but said the challenge is to determine a fare adjustment that would have the least inflationary impact while remaining acceptable to both operators and commuters.
The LTFRB has yet to announce the schedule of the next hearing, where officials from the concerned agencies are expected to present their respective assessments before the board acts on the petitions.
Written by Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/IHM
