Fenatrano warns of possible fare hike over high fuel prices

Santo Domingo.- Juan Hubieres, president of the National Federation of New Transportation Option (Fenatrano), warned that he may no longer be able to prevent affiliated drivers from raising public transportation fares in Greater Santo Domingo due to high fuel prices.

Hubieres said the federation has resisted fare increases despite rising gasoline costs, but argued that transport operators are under growing financial pressure. He criticized the government’s fuel pricing policy and claimed current prices are higher than international market levels.

The union leader called on authorities to expand the Bonogás subsidy program for drivers and fulfill pending pension commitments to retired transport workers. According to Hubieres, these measures would help operators absorb costs without passing additional expenses on to passengers.

He also urged the government to ease the tax burden on middle- and lower-income households and suggested imposing taxes on subsidized fuel used by large corporations and mining companies as an alternative source of revenue.

Hubieres warned that growing economic pressures could increase social discontent and reiterated Fenatrano’s demand for measures to reduce operating costs in the public transportation sector.