President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is reviewing the fare increase for public utility vehicles that he canceled last week.
“The President is studying this and carefully weighing its possible effects, especially since assistance has already been provided. Who was the first to receive aid from the President? Was it not the transportation sector? There is financial assistance, fuel subsidies, and next could be a reduction or suspension of the excise tax,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro in a media briefing in Pasay City on Monday.
The President suspended the fare hike after it was announced by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s.
“The President is simply balancing things at the moment. This is only temporary so as not to burden our commuters who are also experiencing the effects of the crisis in the Middle East. It is necessary to balance assistance for every Filipino,” Castro said.
“For now, we cannot say anything definite because it is still being studied. When it becomes necessary to increase fares and it will not significantly affect commuters and the public, that may be considered. As we mentioned before, even prior to this situation, the allowance given to jeepney drivers was still sufficient for their fuel and operating costs, so they would not incur losses,” Castro said.