Transport Group Seek Fare Increase

NAGA CITY - Amidst the series of oil price increases, transportation groups in Naga City are set to file a petition for a fare hike this week. Although transport leaders refused to issue further details regarding the fare hike until their petition is finalized. other transport groups hinted that they might ask between P1 and P1.50 increase in the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys.

As this developed, tricycle drivers and operators here headed by Rafael Doque said that their group would also ask for a fare increase.

Doque said that their group is now preparing a petition that would be filed with the Sangguniang Panlungsod anytime next week. Operators and drivers' organizations believes that it is now ripe for them to ask for a PO.50 increase in the minimmn fare.

As this developed the regional director Marcelo Salud of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that they anticipate receiving said petition for fare hike from the different transport groups. He however said that he is discouraging any increase in the fare, especially now that the country is expecting a war in the Middle East.

Salud said that the Middle East crisis would have a far-reaching effect in the economy of the country. Primarily, the supply of petroleum products. which we import from the Middle East, would suffer the most.

Transport groups here said that Filipinas Shell has effected another price adjustment of P0.39 per liter for diesel and kerosene and P0.55 per liter for gasoline. Shell's liquefied petroleum gas, Shellane, has also increased by P1.70 per kilo. This is the second time this year that Shell's Shellane increased its price.

Last Jan. 5, it raised the price by P1 per kilogram. Aside from Shell, the new players in the oil industry also increased their fuel prices as a result of the continued upward trend in the prices of crude oil in the world market.

So far, Shell has increased thrice of its gasoline price since Jan. 3 and a total of P1.64 per liter. Shell has increased twice its kerosene and diesel prices totaling P.088 per liter.

Caltex Philippines has increased twice its gasoline price for a total of P1.15 per liter and once for kerosene and diesel.