Manila, July 22 -- Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez has directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to begin public consultations on pending petitions for a fare hike in public utility vehicles (PUVs) amid rising oil prices.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lopez said the consultations are necessary given the potential impact of any fare adjustment on inflation, which he noted is one of Filipinos' top concerns based on a recent Pulse Asia survey.

"The complication right now is that we have to also address inflation. In a recent survey, one of the top concerns of our fellow Filipinos is how to manage inflation. I understand that there are several petitions filed before the LTFRB for this fare hik...