By Dempsey, Inquirer News
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday approved a P1 provisional increase in fares for traditional and modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) nationwide.
Effective July 1, minimum fare for traditional PUJs was raised to P11 for the first four kilometers, and for modern PUJs, the fare will be at P13, according to the LTFRB’s seven-page order on June 29 signed by its chair Martin Delgra III and board members Joel Pernito and Sherwin Mylil Begyan.
In granting the petitions by different transport groups, the LTFRB said in its order: “The board is mindful of the present economic state of every Filipino brought about by the continuous rise in oil prices in the world market and the reeling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“In issuing this resolution, let it not be said that the agency is indifferent to the plight suffered by the transport sector due to the increase of fuel prices,” the order further said. “With the cautious examination of the complexities of the various concerns of our stakeholders, the board balances these interests guided by the principle that now more than ever, the need for the riding public to have mass transportation must be sufficiently met.”
The LTFRB initially granted earlier this month the petition seeking to raise the P9 minimum fare in PUJs to P10 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the entire Region 4 area (Calabarzon and Mimaropa).
Discounts
Even with the provisional fare increase, all PUJ services were also directed by the LTFRB to still grant qualified senior citizens with their discount in fare of not less than 20 percent of the approved provisional fare increase.
Students are also entitled to their fare discount every day and the same for persons with disabilities.
The LTFRB also ordered PUJ services not to increase the rate or revise the rates published in the fare matrix.
In its order, the LTFRB cited as the reason in granting the petitions the “several increases” in fuel costs, including the prices of diesel and gasoline going up by P3.10 per liter and P0.80/L, respectively.
It also said that oil companies have projected that diesel prices will go up by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter, with gasoline prices to increase by P0.10 to P0.20 per liter.
“This has put increasing pressure for public transport, especially PUJs, to continue to ply their routes to serve the riding public,” the LTFRB pointed out.
It noted that this development, granting an additional P1 fare adjustment, “is expected to further augment current fuel prices in the market for a period of time.” INQ
