Public urged to attend hearing on fare hike

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board invites concerned individuals to attend a public hearing on the petition for a   fare hike scheduled at the LTFRB regional office on September 4, this year, at 2 p.m.

LTFRB regional director Romulo Bernardes said that the public should attend especially the students, senior citizens and the differently abled so they could air their respective sentiments about the petition.

It can be recalled that the Cebu Transport and Allied Services Multipurpose Cooperative filed the other Tuesday before the LTFRB a petition for a P1-fare hike in the minimum fare for public utility jeepney amid soaring costs of fuel, lubricants, oil, among others.

Lawyer Manuel Iway said yesterday that he will oppose the said petition contending that such has no basis.

“Ilaha diay gipadayon ang fare hike petition nga niubos na man ang presyo sa lana. Mosupak ko ana," Iway told The FREEMAN.

He said that before the scheduled public hearing, he will formally submit his opposition to the fare hike petition.

Iway contended that the petition he filed six months ago to reduce the fare to P6 was not yet resolved by the LTFRB.

He added that right now, minimum jeepney fare is P6.50 but several, if not majority of the jeepney drivers, are charging P7.

“Daghan kaayo og reklamo nga kaning mga drivers, P7 gyod ang ilang kuhaon nga plete bisan P6.50 ra ang minimum fare,” Iway said.

He added that majority of the drivers are also not implementing the 20-percent discount for senior citizens, students and the differently abled. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)