LTFRB asks public: Join fare hearing

CEBU, Philippines - Students, laborers, senior citizens, housewives, and those directly affected by any change in the fare are encouraged to attend the public hearing on the petition to increase minimum fare to P10 from the current P7.50.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 has set the public hearing on the petition for fare rate increase in Central Visayas on June 24, or 20 days from now.

LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said he already received the order of LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez delegating him the authority to hold a public hearing on the petition filed by Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative.

He was also ordered to forward the records of the public hearing, including the stenographic notes, as well as his recommendation to the national office for Ginez’s office to come up with a decision.

Cuizon said the time and venue of the public hearing would be announced later.

During the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, Cuizon invited the public, especially the students, workers, housewives, senior citizens, and all interested parties to show up and let their voices be heard during the hearing.

He said the recommendation from his office to Manila would be based on the arguments presented during the public hearing.

Last week, LTFRB central office approved a 50-centavo increase for the minimum jeepney fare at the National Capital Region, Region 3 and 4 beginning June 14. It will now be P8.50 for the first four kilometers there and P1.50 instead of P1.40 for every succeeding kilometer.

Ginez said the board found factual basis for a reasonable fare hike because of increases in diesel prices.

The fare increase, though, was subject to certain conditions, such free ride form children below three feet; discounts for senior citizen, students and persons with disabilities should be honored; and that only jeepney’s with the new fare matrix posted inside can implement the fare hike.

Last March, CITRASCO petitioned for a P2.50 increase to make the PUJ minimum fare P10, without asking for adjustment in the per kilometer rate.

For the past two years, though, even when fare for the first five kilometers in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas is pegged at P7.50, jeepney drivers and conductors collect P8 per passenger.

Their excuse is that they do not have a 50-centavo change. A 20-peso bill, however, gets a change of just P4, not P5, when used to pay for the fare of two persons.

There are also drivers and PUJ conductors who collect P7 instead of 6 per student, who is supposed to get a 20 percent fare discount like what senior citizens supposedly enjoy.—(FREEMAN)