Ex-LTFRB7 chief questions P.50 provisional fare increase

Former Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board regional director Manuel Iway has prepared his motion for reconsideration on the implementation of the P0.50 provisional fare increase.

Iway said he will question the implementation of the increase on the ground that it has not passed through the required public hearing. Iway however said he is waiting for a copy of the implementation order before he could file his motion.

He clarified that his plan to question the increase does not mean that he is against its granting. He said he only wanted that a public hearing is done before it is implemented and that the drivers observe the law that grants 20 percent discount to students and senior citizens.

“Ang akong gi-oppose diha kay ang mga drivers dako gihapon og kita kay di man sila mohatag og discount sa senior citizen ug students,” Iway said.

Based on his computation, every driver will be earning an additional P1.20 for every student and senior citizen that they do not give a discount to.

Iway said he will immediately file the motion for reconsideration as soon as he obtains a copy of the order from LTFRB. He said he is doing this as a tax payer.

He also warned the government from implementing a P1 fuel subsidy to the drivers and rice allowance without having a public consultation.

According to him, he is opposed to giving subsidies to the drivers because everybody is affected by the soaring oil prices in the market.

“Dili ko pabor nga mohatag og subsidy. What about the private vehicles?”

The LTFRB started implementing the provisional increase yesterday but some of the drivers and operators are yet to collect the 50 centavos increase.

Public utility jeepney drivers have until tomorrow to collect the provisional P.50 on top of the minimum fare of P6 without posting the Notice of Increase issued by the LTFRB.

LTFRB7 regional director Atty. Romulo Bernardes said they started issuing the notice yesterday.

The notice, Bernardes said, is free and should be displayed at all time within the public utility vehicle.

According to the notice, the minimum fare in Region VII is now P6.50.

“After three days, the passenger may opt not to pay the additional 50-centavo increase if the notice is not yet posted within the jeepney,” Bernardes said.

The LTFRB also clarified that no Fare Matrix is required for the drivers to collect the fare increase, but they must have the official notice posted. —  Fred P. Languido and Ferliza C. Contratista/NLQ