ILOILO City – Even if there is no visibly posted “notice of information” inside traditional or modernized jeepneys about the additional P1 fare hike for the first four kilometers, commuters are nonetheless obligated to add P1 to their fare, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Regional Office 6.
The legal counsel for LTFRB-6, Atty. Salvador Altura, urged commuters to comply with the fare increase.
The nationwide increase took effect yesterday, Oct. 8.
The reminder from Altura comes after LTFRB’s decision not to issue a new fare matrix, as the P1 fare hike is considered provisional. Instead, the LTFRB has released a notice to inform everyone about the fare increase.
The LTFRB-6 staff emailed this notice to various transport cooperatives, corporations, and operators, encouraging them to print and display it inside their vehicles. Individual operators are advised to visit the LTFRB regional office if they wish to obtain a physical copy of the notice.
“The notice is meant to inform the public about the fare increase of P1 for all traditional and modernized jeepneys,” Altura told Panay News.
He also mentioned that a new fare matrix will only be issued if LTFRB-6 decides to amend the current fare structure.
“If the main office mandates an amendment to the overall fare, we’ll then release a new matrix,” Altura added.
Furthermore, Altura clarified that the P1 increase applies only to the first four kilometers or the base fare. The fare for every subsequent kilometer remains unchanged.
Here’s a breakdown of the new fares for traditional and modernized jeepneys starting Oct. 8:
* Traditional PUJs – current base fare (P12); revised base fare (P13); additional charge per succeeding kilometer (P1.80)
* Modern PUJs (MPUJs) – current base fare (P14); revised base fare (P15); additional charge per succeeding kilometer (P2.20)
The LTFRB-Central Office gave its approval for the P1 fare hike on Tuesday, Oct. 3. As a result, the minimum fares for traditional and modern PUJs are now P13 and P15, respectively.
“We’ve provisionally approved a P1 fare increase for the first four kilometers, with no change for the succeeding distances,” LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III announced in a press conference at the board’s central office in Quezon City last week.
His announcement came after a consultation with transport groups, including the Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila & Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide, Inc. (PASANG MASDA), the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO).
These groups had initially requested a P5 fare increase for the first four kilometers and a P1 increase for the subsequent distances. However, the approved P1 increase is temporary and is pending the LTFRB’s final decision on the primary petition, Guadiz clarified.
He also took the opportunity to remind public utility vehicle drivers and operators to continue offering discounted fares for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students./PN
