LTFRB: Only 31% of PUVs have fare matrix

MANILA, Philippines — Only about 31 percent of eligible public utility vehicles (PUVs)have been issued a fare matrix weeks after the government imposed a fare increase earlier this month, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said yesterday.

LTFRB executive director Robert Peig said only around 72,500 PUVs nationwide have been able to get the fare matrix, a required document before any driver or operator can charge higher fares.

This is only about 31 percent of the over 256,000 PUVs covered by the fare increase all over the country.

Peig, in an interview, said that nationwide, the technical division and regional officers have issued 72,500 fare matrices, a figure he described as low.

He said there are various reasons operators have been unable to get their fare matrix.

Some operators were unable to register their vehicles following the transport shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic over two years ago, according to Peig.

The LTFRB, however, has waived penalties for transport operators who have not registered their vehicles with the agency so that they may get the fare matrix.

He added that the LTFRB is mulling removing the P520 filing fee for now so that more operators can get the fare guide as part of financial assistance for transport workers who were adversely affected by the pandemic.

All PUVS are mandated to show the updated fare matrix on their vehicles once it has been issued.

Peig said they have scheduled a hearing on Nov. 15 on the petitions for a possible surge fare hike requested by some groups.

The LTFRB granted an increase in fares for both traditional and modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs), public utility buses, taxis and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units that took effect on Oct. 3.

For jeepneys, the base fares for traditional and modern units were provisionally increased to P12 and P14, respectively, from P11 and P13. The per kilometer rate also increased to P1.80 from P1.50 for traditional PUJs and P2.20 from P1.80 for modern jeepneys.

For buses, the board approved a P2 uniform base fare increase for both city and provincial buses to P13 and P15, respectively.

The board also granted higher per kilometer rates, which include P2.25 per km for ordinary city buses, P2.65 for aircon city buses, P2.10 for provincial deluxe, P2.35 for special deluxe and P2.90 for luxury buses.

As for taxis and TNVS units, it granted a P5 increase in the flagdown rate. This effectively increases the flagdown for taxis and sedan TNVS units to P45, P55 for AUV and SUV units and P35 for hatchback TNVS units.