LTFRB to push P.50 fare drop

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 will recommend a provisional fare reduction of P.50 on jeepney’s minimum fare after its public hearing on the petition to reduce fare on December 17.  This could be good news for commuters but, jeepney transport groups said it’s better to wait for the resolution rather than making shortcuts.

LTFRB-7 director Reynaldo Elnar told The FREEMAN that after the public hearing they are to submit the position paper to their Central Office at the same time the request for provisional fare reduction in the region.

“Samtang gi-resolve ang main petition to reduce the current jeepney’s minimum fare from P7.50 to P7 or a reduction of P.50 atong gi-request ang main office sa issuance aning P.50 provisional fare reduction,” Elnar said.

He also urged the commuters and the public transport drivers and operators to participate in the 9 a.m. public hearing on the 17th for them to air their sentiments on the issue.

It was former Cebu City councilor Augustus “Jun” Pe who filed a petition before the LTFRB-7 to reduce the minimum fare by P.50 citing the series of oil price rollbacks.

Elnar added that it is up to the Central Office to accept or deny their request.

But if the Central Office will approve the request of the LTFRB-7 then students, persons with disabilities and senior citizens are still entitled to the 20-percent fare discount.

For their part, jeepney route leaders under the National Confederation of Transport Workers Union Central Visayas have decided not to oppose the P.50 jeepney’s minimum fare reduction petition.

“Na desisyonan namo karon nga di mi mo-oppose sa fare reduction petition basta provisional lang sama sa Manila,” said NCTU-CV national vice president Romeo Armamento, adding that they will attend the public hearing to let their position be known.

NCTU-CV has more than 2,000 member-drivers in Cebu alone. It comprises 22 different routes scattered all over the province. Cebu Integrated Transported Service Multi-purpose Cooperative (Citrasco) head Benjie Yu, also said they are not against the request of the LTFRB-7 but it has to follow due process.

“I suggest it is better to wait for the reply of the Central Office and I know it takes too long but we have to follow it the same with the fare increase,” Yu said in a phone interview.

Yu added that this situation is also the same with the fare increase that they also have to follow the process and not make shortcuts.

“If increase gani magpaabot gyud mi pareha ra sad na ani’ng fare reduction,” he said.

The LTFRB board has ordered a provisional P1 fare reduction of jeepney’s minimum fare in Metro Manila alone, making it P7.50 from P8.50. The said order took effect immediately.

The board said the fare rollback stemmed from the series of price rollbacks in the prices of fuel products in the world market.  Even Antonio Labios, Department of Energy-7 director, also said that it is high time for fare to be lowered amid the continued fuel price decrease in the world market.

He said it is time for other government agencies, like the Department of Trade and Industry to look into the prices of basic commodities, whether they merit a price rollback too.

Julieto Flores, Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association said that they will be having a meeting within the week to decide whether or not they will reduce their fare.

Bus and mini-bus operators are actually charging a much lower fare as compared to the rate for the past several years due to stiff competition.  — Ria Mae Y. Booc with Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (FREEMAN)