Bus, jeepney fares cut by 50¢

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved yesterday a provisional 50-centavo cut in the minimum fare for public utility buses and jeepneys nationwide effective Dec. 15.

LTFRB chief Thompson Lantion also announced the suspension of the P10 taxi tip that would take effect nationwide next week.

The provisional reduction lowers the minimum fare from P8 to P7.50 for jeepneys and P9 for ordinary buses in Metro Manila.

Lantion said the new fare would be implemented for the first five kilometers.

For provincial buses, the LTFRB approved a 5-centavo reduction for every kilometer on the existing fare provincial fare rate.

Taxi operators also agreed to suspend the P10 tip, noting the decreasing prices of LPG in the local market.

Most taxicabs in Metro Manila are using LPG as an alternative to more expensive gasoline.

The new fare cut was approved after the National Council for Commuters Protection (NCCP) and transport groups agreed to the reduction after a three-hour hearing at the LTFRB main office along East Avenue in Quezon City.

Lantion said the provisional fare reduction would be implemented for three months effective Dec. 15.

He said the LTFRB will no longer issue new fare matrices for the fare cut since it is provisional but the agency would be releasing new fare guides next week to be published in major newspapers nationwide.

Lantion said the LTFRB would have another hearing in February on the petition by the NCCP if it could be feasible to further lower the minimum fare to P7.

“The fare cut is only temporary, and will be tackled again on February 18, 2009,” Lantion said.

NCCP chairman Vicente Millora said they would still push for their original petition of P7 minimum fare for jeepneys and P8 for buses.