The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) denied the reports that the implementation of P9 minimum fare for public utility jeepneys will take place in April.
According to LTFRB Technical Head Joel Bolano, discounts will be implemented once the funds are made available.
“We cannot give the exact date, until and unless nasa LTFRB na ‘yung fund kasi pagka-implement ka na niyan, dapat mayroon na tayong pambayad sa participant ng program,” Bolano clarified.
“‘Yung target na sinasabi ng April, again, kung madownload ‘yung fund. Sabi ko nga, dependent sa fund. Kung as early as this month [ay] ma-download ‘yan, may mga possibility na mas maaga rin po ma-implement,” he added.
Bolano noted that the implementation of the minimum fare will only be imposed on selected routes.
Meanwhile, on the question of whether the drivers’ income will be affected by the fare discount pushed by the Department of Transportation and LTFRB, Bolano affirmed that their income will not be affected as they will be compensated by the government.
“Doon sa mga agam-agam ng ating mga operator at saka driver na mawawalan sila ng kita dahil mababawasan, mataas na nga ‘yung gas babawasan na naman ay hindi totoo iyon. Based on the program, ‘yung ma-di-discount kung sakaling ito na ‘yung implementa natin ay babayaran ‘yun ng ating pamahalaan,” he continued.
“Gusto lamang naming i-klaro na ang fare discount ay hindi rollback ng pamasahe dahil gagawin lang ito sa pagpapatupad ng Service Contracting Program 2023,” Bolano explained. – With reports from Karen Villanda & Katrina Gracia Consebido/cf
