LTFRB has decision on fare hike

CEBU, Philippines - The board members of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have already came up with a decision yesterday on the PUJ farehike petitions filed nationwide.

LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said that he and board member Samuel Julius Garcia have already came up with a decision.

But this, however, is still subject for approval by LTFRB Chairman Jaime Jacob who is still out of the country.

"We will issue the final order on Monday. We will just announce it on Monday," Iway told The Freeman yesterday.

He refused to divulge if they granted any fare hike increase or simply a zero fare hike for public utility jeepneys.

Earlier, Iway said that it is unlikely for the board to grant another round of fare hike as the 50-centavo provisional increase that was granted by the board last month is already enough.

The Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative through its chairman Ryan Benjamin Yu filed for P1.50-increase in the jeepney's current minimum fare for Central Visayas.

But with the granting of the P.50-provisional increase, CITRASCO and other jeepney operators expected an additional P1 making the fare to P9, if approved.

Yu is confident that their petition will be granted as they have documents and data to back up their fare hike petition unlike LTRFB who "has no basis" in granting the 50-centavo provisional increase.-(FREEMAN)