By Aerol John Pateña – PNA News
MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will continue distributing fare matrices to jeepney drivers and operators that will allow them to charge the PHP10 minimum fare to their passengers.
“As suggested by the committee on transport, we will make available the matrix on the website,” LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said in a press briefing on Wednesday evening.
The LTFRB chief earlier said the board charges PHP570 for the fare matrix in accordance with Department Order 2001-082 of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The LTFRB is also set to conduct a hearing within this month on the petition for fare rollback on jeepneys and buses filed by a commuters’ group.
“The board decided to accept it and set it for hearing this month, we are yet to set the date in so far as the hearing is concerned,” Delgra said.
The United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) has filed a petition last Monday, seeking a rollback in jeepney fares from PHP10 to PHP8, air-conditioned bus fares from PHP13 to PHP12, and ordinary bus fares in Metro Manila from PHP11 to PHP10, citing lower petroleum prices.
The price of diesel has gone down by PHP5.05 and gasoline by PHP7.50 per liter for the past five weeks.
The LTFRB is currently conducting its review on the fares in compliance with the directive of DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade to set a formula that will enable fare adjustments to be automatic rather than rely on petitions.
The DOTr said fares must be based on a predetermined matrix that will set clear guidelines when these should be increased or lowered.
