Provisional fare hike eyed if Middle East crisis drags on

National

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is looking at the possibility of imposing a provisional fare increase amid threats of huge fuel price hike due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

In a report by Inquirer.net, LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II said fares for jeepneys, city and provincial buses, point-to-point services, airport taxis, and transport network vehicle services may be increased if the current crisis in the Middle East persists.

But right now, Mendoza said, the current fuel prices don’t justify a P1 increase for jeepneys, even though operators have asked for it.

If needed, Mendoza added that subsidies will be provided to help drivers and operators handle the higher costs.

Mendoza added fare increase will just be temporary as the current price hikes are just a result of the current crisis.

“If fuel prices go down, fares should go down too,” Mendoza said.(Jeff Marco Zamora, BiPSU Comm Intern)