By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
The minimum jeepney fare is now P9, up from P8, after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board granted the P1 provisional fare increase for public utility jeepneys in an order released Friday.
Jeepneys pass by the elliptical road near the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to collect passengers Friday. (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN)
The LTFRB has "provisionally authorized to increase fare in the amount of P1 for the first four kilometers, but no increase in the succeeding kilometers," the order released Friday said.
With this, the resulting minimum fare of P9 should take effect immediately on all public utility jeepneys plying in Metro Manila, and Regions 3 and 4.
"All other regions which have no pending petition for fare increase and prayer for provisional increase shall have no fare adjustment. Their existing authorized fares shall remain," the order further stated.
The LTFRB also reminded public utility drivers that a fare discount of 20 percent should be applied to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students.
All PUJ operators, LTFRB said, should post "Notice of Provisional Fare Increase" inside their jeepneys to avoid confusion to the passengers.
Prior to the release of the order, the LTFRB warned PUJ drivers immediately implementing the P9 minimum fare that they can be fined P5,000 for overcharging.
The move was after the Board resolved to "partially grant" the petition for fare hike on PUJs filed last September 2017 by transport groups Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO), Land Transportation Organization of the Philippines (LTOP), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), and PangkalahatangSanggunian Manila and Suburb Drivers Association Nationwide, Inc. (PasangMasda).
The groups, in their petition, cited higher fuel and spare parts prices which "adversely affect" the income of the drivers and operators.
Petition for P2 increase
Pasang Masda President Obet Martin earlier said they appreciate the decision of the board for the approval of the provisional fare increase, as the P1 fare increase is still a big help to the drivers.
Martin said they will still proceed with their formal petition of the additional P2.
Meanwhile, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno criticized the decision of the LTFRB to approve the P1 fare hike.
The group said that the move places an "additional burden on commuters, without truly alleviating or addressing the concerns of drivers and operators about low incomes and increasing fuel prices."
"The fare hike is not intended to help workers in the transport sector. A P1 fare hike won’t help drivers and operators put food on the table, or send their children to school, or pay rent or utility bills. Instead, it is intended to pass on to commuters the burden of paying for overpriced and overtaxed fuel, which the Duterte administration brought on itself through anti-people measures such as TRAIN and Oil Deregulation laws," KMU chair Elmer Labog said.
Jeepneys pass by the elliptical road near the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to collect passengers Friday. (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN)
The LTFRB has "provisionally authorized to increase fare in the amount of P1 for the first four kilometers, but no increase in the succeeding kilometers," the order released Friday said.
With this, the resulting minimum fare of P9 should take effect immediately on all public utility jeepneys plying in Metro Manila, and Regions 3 and 4.
"All other regions which have no pending petition for fare increase and prayer for provisional increase shall have no fare adjustment. Their existing authorized fares shall remain," the order further stated.
The LTFRB also reminded public utility drivers that a fare discount of 20 percent should be applied to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students.
All PUJ operators, LTFRB said, should post "Notice of Provisional Fare Increase" inside their jeepneys to avoid confusion to the passengers.
Prior to the release of the order, the LTFRB warned PUJ drivers immediately implementing the P9 minimum fare that they can be fined P5,000 for overcharging.
The move was after the Board resolved to "partially grant" the petition for fare hike on PUJs filed last September 2017 by transport groups Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO), Land Transportation Organization of the Philippines (LTOP), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), and PangkalahatangSanggunian Manila and Suburb Drivers Association Nationwide, Inc. (PasangMasda).
The groups, in their petition, cited higher fuel and spare parts prices which "adversely affect" the income of the drivers and operators.
Petition for P2 increase
Pasang Masda President Obet Martin earlier said they appreciate the decision of the board for the approval of the provisional fare increase, as the P1 fare increase is still a big help to the drivers.
Martin said they will still proceed with their formal petition of the additional P2.
Meanwhile, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno criticized the decision of the LTFRB to approve the P1 fare hike.
The group said that the move places an "additional burden on commuters, without truly alleviating or addressing the concerns of drivers and operators about low incomes and increasing fuel prices."
"The fare hike is not intended to help workers in the transport sector. A P1 fare hike won’t help drivers and operators put food on the table, or send their children to school, or pay rent or utility bills. Instead, it is intended to pass on to commuters the burden of paying for overpriced and overtaxed fuel, which the Duterte administration brought on itself through anti-people measures such as TRAIN and Oil Deregulation laws," KMU chair Elmer Labog said.