MANILA, Philippines — Commuters would have to pay P10 minimum fare for jeepneys starting on Nov. 3 as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday denied a commuter group’s appeal to stop the fare increase.
In a decision signed yesterday, the LTFRB denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Arlis Acao and Rodolfo Javellano from the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC), who asked the board to stop the approved fare increase.
Following the junking of the motion, the LTFRB’s Oct. 18 decision stands. The decision made permanent the P1 provisional increase in July and granted an additional P1 for the first four kilometers, effectively increasing the minimum fare for jeepneys to P10.
The increase in fares would be implemented in the National Capital Region and Regions 3 and 4.
Chairman Martin Delgra and board member Ronaldo Corpus said in the majority decision that the motion “failed to present new issues for the board to reconsider its earlier findings.”
The LTFRB noted that the oppositors were given enough opportunities to participate in the proceedings that took more than a year to resolve.
The UFCC had argued that the fare hike would be unjust to the millions of Filipinos already affected by the rising inflation.
However, the LTFRB took into consideration the welfare of jeepney operators and drivers who are battling the rising prices of fuel and the effects of the tax reform law.
“The board has to keep the delicate balance between the rights of the riding public who are mostly dependent on the public transport system vis-a-vis the right of grantees of certificate of public convenience to a reasonable return of investment,” the Oct. 18 decision read.
The newest order also cancelled the scheduled hearing on the motion for reconsideration set for yesterday.
Board member Aileen Lizada dissented and alleged that there was “haste in arriving at a decision by the majority of the board.”