Palace says fare hike should be ‘last resort’ amid fuel surge

The government hopes to avoid raising public transport fares as a “last resort” as it continues providing assistance to transport workers amid surging fuel prices, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration’s priority is to support drivers and other transport workers without passing the additional burden on to commuters.

“Sana po ‘yun ang magiging last resort. ‘Yun ang panalangin (Hopefully, that will indeed be the last resort. That is what we are hoping for),” Castro said, referring to the fare hike proposals.

“Hindi po kasi sa ngayon inclined talaga na magtaas ng pamasahe para sa ating mga kababayan, pero hindi po naman sinasara ang pintuan patungkol po dito (At present, the government is not really inclined to increase fares for our fellow Filipinos, but we are not closing the door on that possibility either),” she added.

Castro said the government continues to assess the situation and determine measures that would help the transport sector while preventing additional financial pressure on commuters.

She said a recommendation would be needed before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. could decide on any fare adjustment.

“Hangga’t kakayanin lang po na ibigay muna ang tulong sa ating mga tsuper sa transport sector nang hindi tataas ang pamasahe, ‘yun po muna ang ginagawa ng administrasyon (As long as we can continue providing assistance to drivers and those in the transport sector without raising fares, that is what the administration is doing),” Castro said.

Meanwhile, Castro said the government could not prevent transport groups from holding a planned strike when asked about the planned two-day transport strike by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahang Tsuper at Operator Nationwide on Sept. 29 and 30.

Transport groups have called on Marcos to allow a fair and sustainable fare adjustment, citing higher operating costs due to elevated fuel prices and payments for modernization loans.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is expected to submit its recommendation on pending fare adjustment petitions to the Department of Transportation by October.

In formulating its recommendation, the LTFRB will consider commuters’ capacity to absorb higher fares, government assistance to transport workers, and the potential impact of a fare increase on inflation.