By Lane Afable
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has suspended the fare hike for public utility vehicles (PUV) in the land transportation sector and will also continue rolling out relief programs in respect to orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
DOTr press officer Rob De Roque told reporters yesterday that the directive covers all recent PUV fare hikes – for traditional and modern jeepneys; city, provincial, and Point-to-Point (P2P) buses; transport network vehicle services (TNVS); and airport taxis.
De Roque clarified that the order only applies to land transport PUVs.
The DOTr also said in a statement that the fare hike will be deferred while the oil crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East is ongoing.
“Tulad ng nabanggit ng Pangulo, inihahanda na rin ng DOTr ang iba’t ibang programang tututok at makatutulong sa ating mga pasahero at PUV drivers tulad ng libreng sakay (Like the President said, the DOTr is preparing other programs that will help passengers and PUV drivers, such as the free ride program),” it said.
In addition, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez has spoken with toll operators to enact toll discounts and has ordered the expedited release of fuel subsidies for qualified PUV drivers and operators.
“Minamadali na rin ng DOTr ang paglalabas ng fuel subsidy para sa mga kwalipikadong driver at operator bilang pandagdag tulong (The DOTr is also fast-tracking the release of fuel subsidies for qualified drivers and operators as additional assistance),” it said.
“Patuloy pong kumikilos ang DOTr at lahat ng attached agencies nito para matiyak na agad na maibibigay ang lahat ng posibleng ayuda at suporta sa mga komyuter, tsuper, at transport operators (The DOTr and its attached agencies continue to move to ensure the distribution of all possible subsidies and support to commuters, PUV drivers, and operators).”
Earlier in the day, Marcos ordered the DOTr to suspend the implementation of the fare increase for PUVs originally set to begin on Thursday.
The President likewise directed to launch free rides nationwide, fare discounts to railway passengers in Metro Manila, and toll discounts to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.
