Expected within the week P.50 fare hike for jeepneys

CEBU, Philippines - An increase of P.50 in the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys nationwide is expected to be handed down by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board within the week.

LTFRB-7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon said that he only learned of this through newspaper reports, although for Central Visayas, petitioner Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative, filed for a P2.50 increase in the PUJ minimum fare, making it P10 from the current P7.50.

“Kung i-grant na ang P.50 provisional fare hike, mura og mao ra gihapon kay dugay na man na nangulekta ang mga drivers og P8 and unfortunately ang mga pasahero di na lang moreklamo,” said Cuizon yesterday.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez earlier said in a statement that the February 2014 motion for the provisional increase of P.50 in jeepney fare filed by various PUJ transport groups nationwide is expected to be resolved this week.

CITRASCO chairman and managing director Ryan Benjamin Yu said in a separate interview that a P.50 provisional increase is too small.

“I hope before LTFRB will make their resolution, maayo unta ipatawag mi nila and other stakeholders. The determination of fare, di ni pwede taghap taghap lang. Our petition is based on actual mathematical computation,” said Yu.

Yu added that the PUJ fare in Central Visayas is actually much lower than other parts of the country, considering that its minimum distance is five kilometers while in other parts of the country it is four kilometers.

Meanwhile, Cuizon said that a transparency group, Transparency and Accountability for Good Governance Empowerment and Development, expressed opposition to Citrasco’s petition, contending that instead of asking for a fare increase, the Value Added Tax imposed on petroleum and petroleum products has to be removed.

A student group from the Cebu Technological University also submitted their position paper, not to oppose the petition but to ask the LTFRB to strengthen the 20 percent discount students are entitled to.

CITRASCO opted to file the petition amidst the rising cost of PUJ spare parts and unstable fuel prices.  -/BRP (FREEMAN)