Jeepney fare hike: ₱1 added, 1 family provided

In response to the 11-week streak increase in gasoline prices, the Land

Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted the ₱1
provisional jeepney fare hike. While this move provides assitance to jeepney
drivers in coping to the non-stop inflation, students commuters strongly oppose
this increase, despite it being just ₱1. It is crucial to recognize that a nation's
improvement cannot be met by just narrow thinking alone; the public must also
consider that the fare hike serves a purpose and is not a baseless move, its
intention is to help drivers support their families, especially considering the
imminent pressure of jeepney modernization in December.

On October 3, 2023, the LTRRB approved the ₱1 'temporary' jeepney fare hike
which will take effect nationwide beginning Oct. 8, resulting for the minimum fare
for traditional jeepney to up by ₱13 and ₱15 for the modern ones. The fare
increase would be only temporary as the LTFRB continues to consider the permanent
₱5 fare hike petition of Pasang Masda, Alliance of Concerned Transport
Organization, and Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the
Philippines.

Recently, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that the year-
to-date inflation has surged to 6.6 percent, underscoring the deteriorating quality
of life in the country. Although this is a national issue, jeepney drivers are the
one taking a huge blow from this matter due to how gasoline prices plays a huge
game in the international market. For context, the 11-week streak of increases in
gasoline prices ammounted total of ₱11 increase, which at first glance, this may
seem unsignificant, but this ₱11 per kilo of gasoline coupled with the daily
boundary and family expenses that a small-time jeepney driver must cover
accumulates into a substantial burden for them.

Meanwhile, the fare hike also stirred up reactions coming from student
commuters, who argue that the increase has a substantial toll on their allowance,
even though students are still able to avail the 20 percent discount, reducing
their fare to ₱11 . On the other hand, a study conducted at the City of Mandaluyong
Science High School (CMSHS) showed that Grade 10 students spends an average of ₱40
on their 'wants.' This data depicts that adding and extra Peso to jeepney fare can
highlight how even ₱1 is worth saving, teaching students to be budget-smart with
their allowance.

PISTON national president Mody Floranda stated that the ₱1 fare hike can help
add an additional ₱200 on a drivers earning and pointed out that the LTFRB are free
to rescind it once the prices of petroleum fall. Despite, jeepney drivers still
facing challenges, they display open mindednes in reverting to the old fare, even
if most of the public rage over a ₱1 increase, blinded on how it can at least
assist drivers to survive the country's inflating economy.

However, it is worth noting that the government must address the real root of
this problem — inflation in gasoline prices. While the provisional fare hike can
assist jeepney drivers in the short term, this move only provides a temporary
solution. Instead, the government must explore long-term solutions to prevent
recurring issues in the future. Relying on short-term measures only fool the
country into thinking that problem is figured out, leading to further negligence in
building an effective and sustainable solution.

In spite of this, Filipinos must not let selfishness prevail. BON Foundation
revealed the daily cost of living in the country for a family of five to be Php
1,087. If a jeepney driver earns an average of Php 500 daily, factoring deductions
for inflated gas costs and boundary costs, especially for those who rent the
jeepneys they operate, most jeepney drivers will likely struggle to provide for
their families' necessities, given their earnings are below the minimum wage.

The country is entering in an age where making ends meet might is a daily
struggle and stress, but this does not eliminate the fact that the Philipphines is
still a country, and a country is nothing without its people. Empathy and
consideration are still essential for a country to thrive, and for it to develop,
it requires a competent government capable of addressing the cries of its people
and knowledgeable enough to create effective and lasting solutions.