For public utility jeepneys nationwide: P2 fare hike granted  

CEBU, Philippines —  The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved a P2 provisional fare increase for traditional and modernized jeepeneys.

The order takes effect July 1, 2022.

This means that minimum fare in traditional jeepneys will now be P11 while minimum fare in modernized jeepneys will now be P13.

“Bisan gamay ra ang gi-approved sa LTFRB, nalipay lang gihapon mi,” said Ryan Benjamin Yu, general manager and president of the Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO MPC), the biggest transport cooperative in the Visayas.

Yu said it was in March this year that they asked for a provisional fare hike of P5 and an additional P1 for every succeeding kilometer.

Initial Request

Joining in CITRASCO’s petition are the Visayas United Drivers Transport and Multi-Purpose Cooperative (VUDTRASCO), Mactan Lapu-Lapu Mandaue Transport Cooperative (MLMTC), Talisay Minglanilla Naga San Fernando Carcar Transport Cooperative (TMNSCTC), Mandaue Sabang Danao Multicab Operators and Drivers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MASADAMOD MPC), and Mauswagon Transport Cooperative and Partylist 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK).

LTFRB, however, denied their petition pending resolution of their main case in which they sought for a minimum fare of P14.

In justifying its decision, the Board said it had to balance the rights of the riding public who are mostly dependent on the public transport system vis-à-vis the right of the operators to financial returns.

The Board emphasized that while it recognizes the present clamor of stakeholders in public land transportation services for necessary action relative to fare rates, it could not be insensitive to the plight of Filipinos every time an increase on the prices of the commodities occur, as a domino effect to the grant of fare increase.

Latest Order

However, in its June 29, 2022, the Board said “let it not be said that the agency is indifferent to the plight suffered by the transport sector due to the increases of fuel prices. With the cautious examination of the complexities of the various concerns of our stakeholders, the Board balances the interest guided by the principle that now more than ever, the need for the riding public to have mass transportation must be sufficiently met.”

The Board then ordered a P2 provisional fare increase in the minimum fare for the first four kilometers of travel. There is no increase in the fare for succeeding kilometers.

Prior to the increase, the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys in Central Visayas is P9 for the first four kilometers and P1 for every succeeding kilometer.

LTFRB said the provisional increase is subject to the following conditions:

• All PUJ services are directed to grant to qualified senior citizens utilizing their services a fare discount of not less than 20 percent of the approved provisionally increased/discounted fares upon presentation of their senior citizen identification cards;

• Students are entitled to a student fare discount of not less than 20 percent of the approved provisionally increased/discounted fares everyday upon presentation of fheir ID cards, both duly validated by their schools, bearing their pictures with their names and schools therein indicated;

•The fare discount of not less than 20 percent of the approves increased fares shall also apply to disabled persons;

•All PUJ operators shall post a Notice of Fare Increase inside their public utility vehicles that would be conspiciously seen by the riding public;

• No increase of rate or revision of fare matrix shall be imposed and/or collected;

In the imposition of the new authorized fare, grantees of Certificate/s of Public Convenience concerned shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Board, the provisions of the Public Service Law as amended, and also the requirements for public transport services.

LTFRB said that based on the Department of Energy review, from January 2, 2022 to June 23, 2022, the lowest recorder average common price was P47.52 per liter on January 2, 2022 while the highest was on June 23, 2022 at P89.40 per liter. Around 14 times, the prices increased and only about seven times that it has decreased during the period under review.

It added that since it granted a provisional increase of P1 to the base fare on June 8, 2022, there have been several increases in fuel costs and the price of diesel and gasoline went up by P3.10 per liter and P0.80 per liter, respectively.

The increase only applied to the National Capital Region, Region 3, and Region 4.

Oil companies, the Resolution further reads, have projected that for June 28 to July 4, 2022, the price of diesel will go up by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter, while gasoline prices will increase by P0.10 to P0.20 per liter.  – JMO (FREEMAN)