Fare hike
THE people commend the government’s move to first assess the economic impact of the proposed increase in the minimum fare for jeepneys across the Philippines.
This, of course, is to ensure that any adjustment in the minimum fare “will not have grave repercussions for the country’s economic growth momentum.
Like other well-meaning Filipinos, notably the beleaguered commuting public, this reflects the national government’s sensitivity to public opinion and public welfare.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government should take into consideration first its potential impact on the “big part” of the nation’s economy.
We agree that there is really a need to take into account the broader picture and the broader objective of ensuring that we keep the momentum of growth going.
Certainly, the authorities don’t want to slow down the progress in the country’s labor market, which has been showing lower and lower joblessness and underemployment.
Earlier, some transport groups asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to increase the jeepney minimum fare from P12 to P17.
Quickly, commuters described the proposed five-peso increase as “hefty”considering today’s economic difficulties.
Some quarters, on the other hand, said that if the government is forced to raise the fare, it must be at a level that commuters, mostly students and ordinary workers, can absorb.
Tama si Secretary Balisacan, kailangang pag-aralang mabuti ang impact ng fare increase sa ating ekonomiya.
