Well, now is the perfect time to make walking more of a habit. Starting November, commuters will have to pay PHP10 (US$0.19) for the minimum jeepney fare, a PHP2 (US$0.04) increase.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted today the petition of transport groups to increase the fare to PHP10, ABS-CBN News stated.
The approval of the petition came after transport groups appealed before the LTFRB in September to increase the base fare to PHP10 (US$0.19) to help jeepney operators combat the increase in prices of petroleum products.
The LTFRB resolved to grant the petition for a fare increase to make permanent the provisional fare increase of PHP1 (US$0.02) which was granted on July 6, GMA News reported. The LTFRB also said that there will be an additional PHP1 (US$0.02) for the first four kilometers, making the minimum fare PHP10 (US$0.19).
In July, the LTFRB granted a provisional fare increase or a temporary increase of PHP1 to the minimum fare of PHP8 (US$0.15), making it PHP9 (US$0.17). However, due to the new decision of the LTFRB, the provisional increase will not be counted (as it was temporary), and because of that, the minimum fare will only be PHP10 instead of PHP11 (US$0.20).
But this still didn’t sit well with the general public.
Cecil Yap, a 23-year-old commuter who uses public transportation regularly, told Coconuts Manila through a Facebook message that the LTFRB shouldn’t implement the price hike.
“I take a jeep and bus every day,” she said in Filipino. She quipped, “This will drive me bankrupt.”
On a more serious tone, she said: “It’ll affect me financially. [With the price hike] I’d rather stay home than leave.”
Other netizens on social media echoed Yap’s sentiment.
Twitter user @kathllupar_ wrote: “The minimum jeep fare is now PHP10 and there’s also a price hike for gas. This is why I’ll start walking.”
naging 10 pesos na minimum fare sa jeep tapos tumaas na din gas sabi ko na eh sisimulan ko na lang tlga maglakad🙃
— Katkat (@kathllupar_) October 17, 2018
@iamarielou sarcastically wrote: “The minimum jeepney fare is going to be PHP10 in November! So happy”
10 pesos minimum fare sa jeep sa November! Ang saya 😅 https://t.co/iVEaOnZCxO
— Marie Lou 💚 (@iamarielou) October 17, 2018
“Since the minimum jeep fare is going to be PHP10, they (jeepneys) should come with [air conditioning],” said @duskbladej.
since 10 pesos na ang minimum fare sa jeep, dapat may aircon na mga yan 😆
— jibrael (@duskbladej) October 17, 2018
@kashopeia added that workers’ pay should also be increased.
Php10 na minimum fare sa jeep. Sana itaas din yung sahod ng manggagawa.
— 🐼 (@kashopeia) October 17, 2018
@andymancy wrote that he had to cut class today because “I didn’t have enough money to go to school and it was the most depressing thing like im not even joking so please, if you don’t think PHP10 is a lot, it is a fucking lot.”
today i had to cut class because i didnt have enough money to go to school and it was the most depressing thing like im not even joking so pls pwede ba if u dont think p10 is a lot it is a fucking lot
— hey andrew! (@andymancy) October 17, 2018
Radyo Inquirer stated that the fare hike will be implemented in the National Capital Region, Region III (Central Luzon, and IV (Calabarzon).
How will this fare hike affect you? Let us know by leaving a comment below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
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