PISTON SEEKS P10 JEEPNEY FARE HIKE

TRANSPORT group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) on Monday filed a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) seeking a P10 fare hike due to rising diesel prices. 

If approved, the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys would increase to P23 from the current P13.

PISTON president Mody Floranda said diesel prices have reached as high as P170 per liter, affecting drivers’ earnings.

He urged the government to address the issue, adding the recent rollbacks in petroleum prices are not enough to ease the burden on drivers.

The group said at 30 liters per day, fuel alone costs a driver roughly P3,700.  

They said combined with boundary, maintenance, and other daily expenses, the total operating costs were around P5,600.

The group said that at the current  fare rate, their gross revenue is only P2,600 to P3,900.

They added that with the P5,600 operating costs, they are losing P1,700 per day.

Meanwhile, PISTON said there will be a protest scheduled at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday at Petron Philcoa  in Quezon City to call for the scrapping of oil deregulation policies and fuel taxes.