A group of commuters on Thursday said members will file a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Friday for a P2.50 fare reduction in response to the reduction of the pump prices of diesel -- the main fuel used by public utility vehicles.

Elvira Medina, president of the Commuters Association of the Philippines, said they will file the petition before noon Friday at Lantion's office.

Earlier, LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion confirmed that CAP will file a petition for a fare reduction following successive fuel price cuts. He said there is a possibility that fare reduction petition would be betwen P0.50 and P1.00.

"Kung tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaba ng diesel nararapat lamang na tumingin sa mga programang makakatulong para maibsan ang kahirapan," Lantion said.

However, Lantion said the petition will be heard starting in the first or second week of October because it will first go through some paperwork at the LTFRB.

Petition to be blocked

Meanwhile, transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) and 1-Utak said that while they respect the petition, they will try to block it.

The transport groups said it is too early to implement a fare reduction because diesel is still around P50.00 per liter.

"Kung bumaba ng P40.00 per liter di kami mag o-oppose... kung maa-aprubahan ang petisyon outrage ito sa mga driver," PISTON secretary-general George San Mateo said.

"Ang problema kasi kung magbabawas kami papaano ang prime commodities na hindi bumababa, mga gulong at baterya na di bumababa?" 1-Utak spokesman Orlando Marquez said.

They also argued that their last petition for a fare increase -- which led to the current P8.50 basic fare -- was when diesel was priced at P37.00 per liter.

However, they said that if the government really wants an immediate fare reduction, a single thing should be done.

"Ang hamon namin... kung tatanggalin ang vat sa langis ngayon, magbaba rin kami ng pamasahe ngayon," San Mateo said.

More rollbacks

Meanwhile, Total Philippines followed the "Big Three" oil companies and Eastern Petroleum in announcing a rollback of pump prices.

"Total is pleased to announce a rollback of P1.00 per liter (VAT inclusive) for gasoline, diesel and kerosene effective 6 a.m. Friday, September 19," Total said in a message to ABS-CBN News.

Earlier, Petron Corp. and Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex) announced on Thursday that it will also implement a P1 per liter rollback in the pump prices of their gasoline, diesel and kerosene products effective 12:01 a.m. Friday.

Petron and Chevron follow Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. which announced on Wednesday a P1 per liter price rollback in its gasoline, diesel and kerosene products effective 12:01 a.m. Friday also.

Petron said its rollback would be implemented “to reflect the continued softening of international oil prices."

Eastern Petroleum Corp. is also set to lower anew by P0.50 per liter the prices of its diesel, gasoline and kerosene effective 12:01 a.m. Friday. Eastern Petroleum and Seaoil Philippines Inc. implemented a P0.50 per liter reduction in their pump prices Wednesday. With reports from Ron Gagalac and Alvin Elchico, ABS-CBN News