Cebu transpo groups welcome P1-fare hike

Local

A GROUP of transport cooperatives in Cebu has supported the planned P1 provisional fare hike, saying it would help jeepney drivers manage daily operational costs amid an expected spike in fuel prices.

Ellen Maghanoy, chairperson of the 13-member Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives (FCTC), said the fare adjustment would benefit drivers, even if implemented only as a base increase and not per kilometer.

“Makatabang siya. Dako na siya og tabang sa atoa... dako na kaayo na og tabang sa atoang mga drivers,” Maghanoy told MyTV Cebu on Friday, June 20.

Maghanoy, who also leads the El Pardo Transportation Cooperative, said their current minimum fare is P15 for modern jeepneys. Her group manages 106 daily operating units, deploying all during peak hours and about half during off-peak periods between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Maghanoy expressed alarm over the looming fuel hike, saying it would severely impact their operations.

“Bug-at na sir, kung pwede pa lang lami na ihilak kataas na baya ana oi unya ang increase sa atong pletehan piso ra pero maayo nalang na kaysa wala,” she said.

According to her, fuel costs for one modern jeepney unit range between P2,500 and P2,700 daily, depending on operating hours.

For units serving longer routes, such as those traversing the Naga City to IT Park and vice verse route, daily fuel expenses can go beyond P3,000.

“Dako sir kay aircon baya na atoang sakyan. Kung traditional pa mi, ang per day nato naa ras P800 or P900 pero kami gamodern, dako man gud ang makina sir nya aircon pa gyud,” Maghanoy added.

Currently, FCTC has 900 to 1,000 operating units under its member cooperatives.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier said the fare hike will be a uniform P1 across all routes, without additional per-kilometer charges.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said the increase is being considered to ease the burden on drivers without putting too much pressure on commuters.

Several national transport groups, including Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, have pushed for the fare hike due to rising operational costs.

The Department of Energy has warned of a potential “big-time” fuel price increase due to tensions in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

Based on the latest four-day trading data, diesel prices may jump by P4.30 to P4.80 per liter, while gasoline may increase by up to P3.00 per liter.

Energy officials said the conflict threatens shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, which could disrupt global oil supply and push prices further up.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that the government will roll out a P2.5-billion fuel subsidy program to assist affected sectors, including jeepneys, buses, taxis, and delivery vehicles.(MyTVCebu)