Public hearing set on PUJ fare hike

CEBU, Philippines - A public hearing will be held on the fare hike petition for public utility jeepneys filed by the Cebu Integrated Transport Services Cooperative in March.

  “We will direct or issue an order to the regional director to conduct the hearing here. It’s up to him to schedule when,” said LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez during the Transport Summit’s open forum yesterday.

The petition asked for an increase of P2.50 for the PUJ’s minimum fare. If approved, the minimum for for PUJs in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas’ will be P10.

Ginez said that LTFRB-7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon will accept all documents, not just on the petition, but also on the opposition.

Based on the result of the public hearing, Cuizon will recommend to the board either the approval or disapproval of such decision.

  The board will eventually issue a final verdict on the petition.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, general manager and president of CITRASCO, said the public hearing must be conducted in Cebu because jeepney operators in Central Visayas have other concerns.

Yu said that normally, LTFRB only hears the sentiments of jeepney operators in Metro Manila then apply whatever results nationwide.

But Ginez said that the petition of jeepney operators in Manila to increase the fare is only applicable in Region III, Region IV and the National Capital Region.

 CITRASCO, the biggest transport cooperative in Cebu, filed the petition saying that prices of spare parts are now getting expensive, leaving them with no other choice but to increase jeepney rentals. (FREEMAN)