Group seeks cut in taxi, bus fares

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will hear the petition for the reduction of fare of taxis, UV express, airport taxis and public utility buses (PUBs) due to a recent series of diesel price rollbacks early next year.

The LTFRB has scheduled the hearing for the petition filed by Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway on Jan. 9, 2015 at 9 a.m. at its main office in East Avenue, Quezon City.

The Board transmitted a Notice of Hearing to Iway who filed a petition on Wednesday, requesting for the Board to reduce the flagdown fare for taxis from the existing P40 to P30 and from the current P3.50 to P2.50 for every succeeding 300 meters, for taxi services nationwide; and the reduction of regular PUB fare from P10 to P8 for the first five kilometers and from P1.85 to P1.50 for every succeeding kilometer.

Iway was a member of the LTFRB.

"Nauunawaan po namin na dahil sa sunud-sunod na pagbaba ng presyo ng diesel sa pandaigdigang merkado, kailangan ding maramdaman ng publiko na sumasakay sa mga taxi ang resulta ng paggalaw ng presyo ng krudo kaya naman naman nagpapatawag ang Board ng public hearing upang matugunan ang petition ng ating mangbabatas at consumer group,"  LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.

Iway based his petition on the continuous decline of diesel prices, which are now pegged at P31.15 per liter from P47.75/liter three years ago.

Included in the petition is the reduction of airport taxi's flagdown rate of P70 for the first 500 meters and P4 for every succeeding 300 meters.

The petitioner has 15 days prior to the date of the hearing to publish the Notice of Hearing in a newspaper of general circulation. The petitioners shall also submit proof of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements.

On the other hand, the Board will allow parties contesting or opposing the approval of the proposed fare reduction to file in written form their position prior to the hearing date. Both parties must also appear to submit their position papers on the said date.

Last week, the LTFRB ordered to reduce by P1.00 the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys in Metro Manila due to the continuous rollback in oil prices.