The government needs to assess the economic impact of the proposed increase in minimum fare for jeepneys to ensure that it will not have grave repercussions for the country's growth momentum, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Tuesday. Before acting on the proposed fare adjustments, the government should take into consideration first its potential impact on the 'big part of the economy,' Balisacan said in a Palace briefing. '[We] would have to take into account the broader picture and practically the broader objective of ensuring that we will keep the momentum of growth going, we'll continue the progress we have made in recent months in slowing down inflation, [and] that we do not also slowdown the progress they're making in the labor market,' Balisacan said. 'As you have seen, the labor market has been showing us lower and lower unemployment and underemployment. And we want to continue those, as well as, perhaps more importantly, improving the quality of employment,' he added. Quizzed as to how the fare hike petition would affect the Philippine economy in general, Balisacan said he has yet to study the proposal for him to provide more accurate findings. Balisacan said he would review the transport groups' petition for a PHP5-peso fare hike for the first four kilometers and an additional PHP1 for the succeeding kilometer. 'I don't have the numbers now. But, we can look at it. Of course, it depends on how -- what areas are covered, is that PHP5 fare going to be applied nationwide?' he said. 'We will need more information, but definitely in most instances and practically or actually all instances concerning requests like this, the view of NEDA is sought.' Balisacan said the decision on the proposed increase in minimum fare for jeepneys would also depend on the evaluation of the concerned agencies. 'So, those considerations have to be taken into account in approving requests or appeals or things like higher transport fare,' he said. Earlier, the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, Stop and Go Transport Coalition Inc. and the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines submitted a letter requesting the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to raise fares by PHP2 for all jeepneys nationwide. Transport groups Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations filed Tuesday a petition before LTFRB to increase the minimum fare from PHP12 to PHP17. They also called on the LTFRB to issue an order granting a provisional adjustment to the current minimum fare of PHP12 to PHP13.
Source: Philippines News Agency
