Minimum fare for jeepneys PUJ operators seek P1.50 hike

CEBU, Philippines - P9! That is not the latest phone model, but that would be how much you need to pay as minimum if the plan of jeepney operators to ask for an increase P1.50 in the fare would be granted.

Operators and officials of the different jeepney groups have aggreed to file a P1.50 increase in the minimum fare with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Currently, the minimum fare is P7.50.

 Ryan Benjamin Yu, chairman of the Cebu Confederation of Transport Operators and Drivers Inc., said that they will file the petition next week.

Yu said that they will not be asking any increase in rate added for each succeeding kilometer after the minimum distance of five kilometers.

Yu, who is also the chairman of Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (CITRASCO), said that not only the prices of fuel have gone up.

He said that the prices of spare parts and tires and the fees collected for repair are also increasing.

The CCTODI last November was asking for a P2.50 increase in the minimum fare, but this was deferred when fuel companies slashed the pump prices.

He added that transport operators also need to increase the rental of the vehicles to cope with the increasing prices.

CITRASCO still has a pending fare hike petition that was filed before the LTFRB in 2009 that has not been decided on.

Instead of coming up with a decision on the said petition, LTFRB granted a P1 provisional fare hike for Central Visayas last year, making the minimum fare P7.50.

In August of 2009, CITRASCO and the Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Driver-Operator Alang sa Reporma filed a fare hike petition seeking to increase jeepney fares from P6.50 to P8.50 in order to cope with the rising cost of fuel as well as the price of spare parts.

Region VII has around 10,000 jeepney units and a majority of which are in Cebu.

The minimum fare here was as high as P8 in July 2008, but this was reduced to P7.50 the month after when fuel prices started to drop.

On December 15, 2008, LTRFB implemented a second round of provisional fare reduction of 50 centavos for jeepneys making it P7 from P7.50 and further reduced it by another 50 centavos sometime in March 2010, making the fare P6.50.

In January 31, 2011, LTFRB approved a P1 provisional fare hike to increase the minimum to P7.50.

Although the current minimum fare is P7.50, it has been observed that jeepney drivers collect P8 or passengers pay only P7 perhaps due to shortage of 25 centavo coins. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)