It's been only a few days since jeepneys and buses in Metro Manila raised fares, but commuters should brace for another possible fare hike.
Provincial bus operators have amended their initial petition for a fare hike and are now asking for P2.50 additional fare for non-aircon buses and P3.00 for aircon buses.
While their petition is being heard by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, they want a provisional P2.00 per kilometer increase in non-aircon and aircon buses.
If the provisional increase is granted, fare for short trips such as Manila to San Pedro, Laguna will reach P60.00 for non-aircon buses and P66.00 for aircon buses.
Longer trips such as Manila to Batangas will be P200 for non-aircon bus and P240 for aircon buses.
Transport holiday
Meantime, jeepney drivers allied with PISTON in Southern Luzon will hold a transport holiday on Thursday to protest soaring oil prices.
From four in the morning to nine in the evening, jeepney drivers will not ply their routes in Sta. Cruz, Sta. Rosa and Crossing, Calamba in Laguna, as well as in Lipa City in Batangas, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, Lucena and even Rizal.
Militant fishermen also held their own protest against the weekly oil price hikes.
Members of the group Pamalakaya swam in the waters off Cavite bearing a placard that signifies their discontent over the high prices of petroleum products. With reports from Sheryll Mundo and Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News