The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) announced Saturday its continued pursuit of a provisional fare increase to mitigate the impact of escalating fuel costs.
ACTO chairperson Liberty de Luna stated in a radio interview that a P2 provisional fare increase would be sufficient for public utility vehicles.
De Luna explained that even a P1 increase would be welcomed, but a P2 increase would set the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys at P15 and modern jeepneys at P17.
She emphasized the dire financial situation of jeepney drivers, whose daily income can dwindle to as low as P150 under current fare rates.
The “provisional” nature of the fare hike is crucial, according to de Luna. Should fuel prices decline, the fare increase would be automatically reduced. Specifically, she stated that once diesel prices return to P40 per liter, the provisional fare increase would be eliminated.
De Luna highlighted the necessity of the increase, noting that while they secured a P1 provisional increase two years ago from a requested P5, the continuous surge in fuel prices has severely strained drivers and operators. Therefore, a P2 provisional fare increase is now deemed essential to alleviate their financial burden.
