DOTr says fare hike remains last resort as LTFRB hearings continue

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday said fare hike petitions filed by public transport groups are still being heard by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), but emphasized that raising fares remains a last resort.

“Tinatapos na lang po yung mga hearing. aang hearing po kasi may proseso din eh. hindi lang po papakinggan yung panig ng transport groups, kailangan mo din pakinggan yung panig ng commuters natin,” said DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez.

“I gave them until last week of September. Hopefully, by October meron na tayong rekomendasyon mula sa LTFRB,” he added.

Lopez said the government is still looking for ways to provide support to transport operators and commuters amid rising fuel prices and inflation.

“At this point in time, pinipiga pa rin natin ang gobyerno kung anong puwede nating ibigay na inisyatibo, subsidiya,” Lopez said.

The agency hopes a fare increase will remain a last resort as the government continues to address rising prices and high inflation.

“Sabi natin sa LTFRB, proseso natin ‘yung fare hike petition at sana po ang pag-i-impose natin ng fare hike ay maging last resort. It’s just a matter of time. Kapag tingin natin na ‘yan ang last resort, ay gagawin din po natin ‘yan,” he said.

“Ang sitwasyon po natin ngayon ay mataas po halos ang presyo ng bilihin. The inflation itself is quite high, pag nagtaas po tayo ng pamasahe ay siguro pong makakadagdag po yan sa ating inflation,” he added.

A bus company on Tuesday urged the government to lift the suspension on fare increases, warning that continued high fuel costs could force some bus operators to shut down.

PISTON and other transport groups, including bus operators, are set to hold a transport strike on September 29 and 30.

The DOTr said it continues to engage in dialogue with transport groups and plans to communicate the government’s assistance programs to bus operators and drivers.

“Sa ating mga bus operators at drivers, ako po ay personal na humihingi ng inyong pasensya, paumanhin at konsiderasyon. Makakaasa naman po kayo na ang gobyerno ay gumagawa ng iba’t ibang inisyatibo para matulungan kayo at mga commuters,” Lopez said.

He said the government is also looking at extending the current P12 per liter fuel subsidy program for jeepney and UV Express drivers and expanding it to cover other transport groups.

The government is also preparing additional assistance, including a second round of subsidy through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.