EDITORIAL - Drivers should be fair

Confusion still mar the implementation of the public utility jeepney fare rollback in Central Visayas. Several complaints are being reported against some PUJ drivers who are still charging passengers the old minimum fare.

Almost a week into the implementation of the new minimum fare rate, many jeepney drivers still refuse to heed calls to reduce the fare, contending that no official statement has been issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on the rollback.

Of course, PUJ operators and drivers in Cebu have already read and heard the news about the fare rollback that was going to be implemented in the region amid the plunging prices of pump prices.

The Freeman was the first to report about the fare rollback approval courtesy of an interview with an official of the LTFRB-7. In the report, the official said the board's central office has granted the petition of former Cebu City councilor Jun Pe seeking to reduce the minimum fare for jeepneys in the region.   

But many drivers continue to ignore the LTFRB ruling. For them, the news on the fare rollback announcement was really useless in the absence of a piece of paper that officially orders them to reduce the fare. 

Because of this, it's time for the LTFRB to take serious action by aggressively going after those who refuse to comply with the ruling. The board should see to it that the order is strictly followed by all PUJ drivers and operators in the region otherwise a more serious problem can only be expected.

Just because the LTFRB has made the announcement through the media does not really give the drivers the license to defy the order due to the absence of an official communication from the board.

Given the mounting complaints from the riding public, the LTFRB should now  flex its muscles to discipline those who refuse to obey its order. It's time for the regulatory board to impose penalties.