ILOILO CITY — The new minimum fare for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the city and the province of Iloilo is expected to take effect second week of August, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Western Visayas (LTFRB-6).
In a media interview Tuesday, Richard Osmeña, Regional Director of LTFRB-6 confirmed their central office already approved the petition for PHP2 hike, raising the minimum fare to PHP8.50 for the first four kilometers from the original PHP6.50 fare.
Osmeña said that they expect the copy of the approved rate to be sent to their office next week. He said they still have to publish the approved rate in a local newspaper for 15 days.
“After that, we start already with the implementation of the fare hike,” he said.
Osmeña emphasized that the approved fare hike covers only the first four kilometers travel.
“The succeeding will be as is because there was no petition filed for the succeeding kilometers,” he said.
Various jeepney drivers and operators operating in the city and the province petitioned for the fare increase due to the additional excise tax on petroleum products, basic commodities and vehicle spare parts as among the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
A series of public hearings were conducted to tackle the petition of the drivers that gathered representatives of the various stakeholders.
Rizalito Alido, Secretary General of the City Loop Integrated Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, said they hoped that the PHP2 fare increase will take effect in two weeks. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
