Early Christmas gift: Lower fares next month?

CEBU, Philippines - Negros Oriental first district Representative Manuel Iway is foreseeing the granting of his petition for fare reduction by the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in November.

This, he said, would be an early Christmas gift for all the commuters nationwide.

“The petition is due for resolution. Hopefully, by next month LTFRB will have a decision in favor for the passengers,” said Iway, who will run as congressman under the partylist Aban Lingkod as second nominee.

LFTRB had conducted a public hearing last October 13 on Iway’s petition, which sought to reduce the fares of taxis, public utility jeepneys and buses.

According to the petition, the minimum PUJ fare in Central Visayas should be reduced by P1 for the first five kilometers, and a reduction of P0.25 for each succeeding kilometer. He cited falling fuel prices as argument for the petition.

To date, the minimum fare in Central Visayas is P7 for the first five kilometers and P.90 for the succeeding kilometer.

If the petition would indeed be approved, minimum fare would only be P6 and each succeeding kilometer P0.65.

In the same petition, Iway also asked that taxi units’ P3.50 additional fare for every succeeding 300 meters be reduced from P3.50 to P2.50. He likewise asked the mandatory recalibration of the P40 flagdown rate to P30 to avoid confusion and altercation between the driver and the passenger.

Iway, though, did not include Cebu in his petition to reduce bus fare since bus operators here are implementing a much lower fare. To recall, LTFRB approved a few years ago that bus and mini-bus fare should be P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.45 for every succeeding kilometer.

Cebu’s bus and mini-bus operators, however, are currently undercharging their passengers by collecting only P6 for the first five kilometers and P1.20 for each succeeding kilometer due to stiff competition.  (FREEMAN)