Plus 50 cents and Domino Effects

Starting today, the minimum passenger jeepney fare would be 8.50 pesos as it was approved yesterday by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB). This increase in fare is only provisional while LTFRB is hearing the petition by other transport groups to increase fare up to 2 pesos. And yet, nobody is happy with this decision; even transport groups.







So what do different key players have to say?



Transport Groups say...

...with the tiny amount of 50 centavos, their pockets will still be empty at the end of roaming around cities and provinces because most of their profits will still go to gas. What with the quick rise in gas prices, a mere 50 centavos won't help them much. This is why they are pushing for a 2 pesos increase which the LTFRB is still hearing.



The Labor Sector says...

...it's high time to pass the 90 pesos increase in wages! The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines reiterated its call for a complimentary increase in the labor force's wages. According to TUCP, with this increase in fare, ever sector will be affected especially their own. In turn, the prices of basic goods will also increase, thus affecting the consumers as well.



The House Committee on Labor says...

...while t Malacanang is egging on the House Committee to decide on the 90 pesos increase on wages, the latter is still refusing to approce the 125 pesos across the board wage increase. The committee says that 125 pesos is too much on the part of the business sector. Not all businesses would be able to afford this hike and if this would be approved, many laborers would eventually lose their job to compensate for the increase in salary.



The Passengers Say...

...it's another fare hike we have to endure while salaries remain low. Students complain that their meager allowance would be insufficient due to another increase in fare and some might have to stop going to school altogether. Parents, in turn continue having headaches as they figure out how to make ends meet everyday in the midst of increases in the price of goods, in fare, and even in tuition fee.




Perhaps as a way of consoling the public, LTFRB directs that the 5o centavos increase would only remain as long as diesel prices remain high. As soon as gas prices roll back, fare would revert to the minimum 8 pesos.