Commuters line up to ride jeepneys at a terminal at Elliptical Road in Quezon City on Thursday. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Regulators should add a sunset provision to the P1 jeepney fare hike they approved earlier in the week, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Saturday. 

Dagdag-pasahe sa mga jeep epektibo na

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should state that this would only be valid until the end of the year, with the option to extend for another 3 to 6 months should fuel prices remain high, Gatchalian said. 

"Ipinapanukala ko ito dahil alam naman natin na mas madaling magtaas ng singil sa pamasahe kaysa magbaba nito," he said in a statement.

(I am calling for this because we all know that it's easier to increase fares than decrease it.)

Gatchalian also asked the Department of Finance and Department of Transportation to study the Pantawid Pasada Program to determine if the P5,000 fuel voucher is enough to alleviate the effects of increasing oil prices on jeepney drivers.

Jeepney operators to receive P5,000 fuel vouchers in July: LTFRB

The LTFRB on Friday released its order provisionally approving the increase to P9 from the previous P8 jeepney fare in National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, at Mimaropa.

Some transport groups originally batted for a P10 base fare for jeepneys due to rising fuel prices, while others sought a P5-per-liter discount on oil or exemption from value-added tax.

Hiling ng transport groups: P2 dagdag sa minimum fare, diskuwento sa presyo ng langis

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