LTFRB okays P2 jeepney fare hike

By Franco Jose C. Baroña, Manila Times

BEGINNING July 1, the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) nationwide will be at P11 and P13 for modern jeepneys.

This development came after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted on Wednesday the petition filed by transport groups to increase the minimum fare for all PUJs amid the continuous rise in the prices of fuel products.

In its seven-page order, the LTFRB granted the petition to expand nationwide the P1 provisional increase in minimum fare it approved on June 8 for PUJs operating in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Region 4 which includes both Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan).

On top of this, the LTFRB also granted an additional P1 provisional increase for all PUJs operating nationwide.

With the LTFRB's latest order, the minimum fare for traditional PUJs will be at P11 nationwide while P13 for modern jeepneys.

The order also emphasized that there will be no increase in the succeeding kilometers after the four-kilometer distance covered by the minimum fare.

Other conditions that the latest LTFRB order cited were for all PUJs to still grant 20 percent discount to senior citizens, students and persons with disabilities; that all PUJs must post the notice of increase inside the vehicles; and that no fare matrix revision will be allowed and posted that details increase in succeeding kilometers after the four kilometers covered by the minimum fare.

The petitions for a fare hike was filed by 1-United Transport Koalisyon, Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide, Inc., Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization on June 25

The petitioners noted that while LTFRB granted June 8 a P1 provisional increase to the minimum fare for jeepneys in three regions, including the National Capital Region, bringing it to P10 from P9 for the first four kilometers, the cost of diesel has since risen, offsetting any relief the fare hike might have provided.

They said the increase is "grossly insufficient" and can "hardly be felt" by jeepney operators.