Jeepney fare petition out next week

Passengers hand in their P7.50 fare to a PUJ driver. LTFRB is set to announce their decision on the petition for a provisional passenger jeepney fare reduction. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) may announce its decision on the petition for a provisional 50-centavo reduction of passenger jeepney fare for Cebu next week.

Last Monday, January 5, the agency has started reviewing the petition filed by former Cebu City councilor Augustus Pe Jr., said LTFRB board member Ariel Inton.

In a public hearing held by LTFRB-7 last December 17, Pe said he pushed through with his petition after learning that Cebu is not covered by the provisional P1 fare reduction in Manila.

Passenger jeepneys charge a P7.50 fare.

Rudy Laconza, chairman of Alliance of Transport Organization Member Intra Cebu City (Atomic) and Alex Bordadaro, chairman of Visayan United Drivers Transport Services Cooperative (Vudtrasco) opposed the 50-centavo fare rate reduction.

Greg Perez, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) Cebu coordinator, agreed with the fare reduction provided the national government repeals the Oil Deregulation Law.

Engr. Elias Sabang Jr., president of the Consumer’s Rights for Economic Welfare, Inc. (Crew) and Romeo Armamento, president of National Confederation of Transport Workers Union (NCTU) in Cebu also supported the fare reduction.

The LTFRB has yet to receive any letter or document from the LTFRB-7 office on the agreement signed between the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association and the Cebu provincial government for a P1 reduction of bus fares last year.

The LTFRB will hold a public hearing on a petition filed by Negros Oriental Rep. Ramon Iway to lower the minimum flag down rate for taxis from P40 to P30 tomorrow.

Iway’s petition also asked the LTFRB to cut by P1 the P3.50 charged for every waiting time of two minutes and for every succeeding 300 meters.