Jeepney fares to go up P1

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved yesterday a P1 increase in the minimum fare for passenger jeepneys from the current P7 to P8 in Luzon that takes effect tomorrow.

LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said jeepney operators could start collecting the new minimum fare of P8 tomorrow as long as they have received a copy of the LTFRB resolution that was signed yesterday.

LTFRB chairman Nelson Laluces and board member Julius Garcia approved the resolution while Iway rendered a dissenting opinion.

Jeepneys in Luzon could now charge P8 for the first four kilometers.

The charge for every succeeding kilometer is still at P1.40, Iway said.

The minimum fare for passenger jeepneys in the Visayas and Mindanao would also increase by P1 from the current P6.50 to P7.50 for the first four kilometers. The charge for the succeeding kilometers is still P1.40.

LTFRB records showed that there are 229,000 jeepneys all over the country, with 49,612 units operating in Metro Manila.

The board has taken judicial notice of the operators’ argument that prices of goods are going up and that maintenance of their vehicles is already adversely affecting the livelihood of the operators.

While the board is aware of the plight of the passengers, the LTFRB argued that it must also protect the rights of jeepney operators “who are serving a vital industry.”

The LTFRB noted that jeepney operators have voluntarily reduced their fares whenever diesel prices went down, Iway said.

The last was in February 2009, when the price of diesel went down to P23 per liter. The minimum fare was reduced to P7.

Iway said he posed a dissenting opinion to the resolution because he said every allegation of income loss on the part of the operators should be supported by evidence.