An official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday said the proposals to hike the minimum fare were being studied by the board amid the country’s skyrocketing oil prices.

LTFRB Executive Director Tina Cassion said the board was looking for the most “equitable decision for all stakeholders.”

“Iyong kahilingan nila and the situation on the ground tells us na nahihirapan na rin sila. So, ito iyong mga ina-assess ng board natin […] and [we are] considering also the feedback or the position papers of our resource persons from NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and other economic management ng mga agencies,” she said in a “Laging Handa” briefing.

Cassion said the LTFRB would consider the economic viability of increasing the minimum fare and if the consumers could afford higher fares.

“[We also consider] iyong effect naman nito sa inflation natin, kasi sinabi nga ng NEDA noon na after we give the provisional P1 increase, it [will] really cause an increase in the inflation rate naman. So, lahat ng ito ay binabalanse ng ating Board in coming up with an equitable decision for all stakeholders,” she added.

The LTFRB recently approved a P1 jeepney fare hike in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa that brought the minimum fare to P10 in the regions.

Some groups have petitioned for additional hikes in the minimum fare ranging from P1 to P5.

On Tuesday, oil prices increased by P0.80 per liter of gasoline and P3.10 per liter of diesel. John Ezekiel J. Hirro