Quezon city: Regulators must assess whether existing government subsidies are sufficient to stabilize the transportation sector before resorting to fare hikes, according to House Committee on Transportation chairperson and Quezon City 3rd District Rep. Franz Pumaren. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Pumaren said any decision must also take into account the capacity of commuters to absorb higher transport costs.
According to Philippines News Agency, several petitions are pending before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), including proposals to raise minimum jeepney fares to as high as PHP25. Pumaren emphasized that the Marcos administration's existing interventions should first be maximized, highlighting various subsidies and discounts already in place.
Pumaren elaborated on the current measures, stating, 'Sa ngayon na ginagawa natin -- mayroon tayong fuel subsidy, may discounted fuel, mayroon din per-kilometer na binibigay sa operators at drivers ng jeepney at bus, at may (Right now, what we're doing -- we have a fuel subsidy, we have discounted fuel, there's also a per-kilometer discount given to operators and drivers of jeepneys and buses, and) there's a 20 percent discount. I think we can bank on those first.' He warned that poorly timed fare hikes could have broader social consequences, especially amid economic pressures on low-income households.
The lawmaker also discussed the emergency power granted by Congress to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to address the energy crisis, indicating that lawmakers are now studying longer-term reforms, including potential legislation to overhaul existing policies affecting fuel pricing and transport support.
In the same forum, Pumaren flagged delays in the delivery of National Identification cards as a significant issue affecting transport workers in the informal sector, who are unable to access aid due to a lack of valid government-issued ID. He stressed that the absence of a unified ID system continues to cause inefficiencies, data mismatches, and duplication.
Pumaren highlighted the urgency of the issue, noting that transport workers are particularly vulnerable to volatile fuel prices. He cited cases of duplicate entries and 'ghost riders' claiming assistance, suggesting that a fully functional national ID system could minimize these problems. The lawmaker intends to file a resolution seeking a House inquiry into the rollout of the national ID system under the Philippine Statistics Authority.
