P2 fare hike sought amid rising fuel prices

National

TRANSPORT group Piston announced plans to file a petition seeking a provisional P2 fare increase amid the rising fuel costs.

The petition would raise the minimum jeepney fare to P15.

During a rally along East Avenue in Quezon City, Piston president Mody Floranda said the proposed fare adjustment aims to prevent further income losses among jeepney drivers and operators amid increasing oil costs.

In a report by Philstar, Floranda explained that drivers currently take home only around P400 to P500 after spending 12 to 18 hours on the road. The recent spike in fuel prices could reduce daily earnings by P200 to P300, further straining drivers’ livelihoods.

“If the provisional P2 fare increase is granted, drivers would need at least 200 passengers a day just to earn around P400,” Floranda said.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Vigor Mendoza said a provisional fare increase may be considered if diesel prices reach P80 per liter.

Floranda emphasized that any fare adjustment should be accompanied by an increase in the minimum wage of Filipino workers to P1,200 to help commuters manage rising transportation costs.(Jeff Marco Zamora, BiPSU Comm Intern)