ILOILO City – Public transport users will start to shell out extra beginning today.
The nationwide fare increase for modern and traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJ), public utility buses (PUB), taxis, and transport network vehicle services (TNVS) takes effect now.
However, drivers and/or operators who have not secured the new fare matrix could not demand from passengers to pay the adjusted fare rates, said Atty. Salvador Altura Jr., legal counsel and spokesperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Region 6.
“Explicit gid na sa (LTFRB) decision nga kon wala ka taripa indi ka kasukot sang adjusted fare hike,” stressed Altura.
The fare matrix must be displayed conspicuously inside public utility vehicles (PUVs), according to Altura – a strict condition in the implementation of the fare adjustment.
The fare matrix is also specific to every PUV unit because it bears its plate number, he added.
“Sa ano man nga rason nga wala mo nakuha, possible indi ka entitled kay imo ya lisensya ukon franchise expired. Kon indi ka matagaan, indi ka gid sina kasukot. Kag kon magsukot ka, may violation ikaw,” said Altura.
Citing the LTFRB policy, Altura said the first offense for illegal fare hike has a fine of P5,000; P10,000 for the second offense; and P15,000 fine and and cancellation of the Certificate of Public Conveyance (CPC) for the third offense.
Commuters with complaints regarding this are encouraged to alert the LTFRB Region 6 office in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro district.
“Importante sa nagareklamo klaruhon nila, ma-establisar nila sang klaro ang ebidensya,” said Altura.
But Altura clarified that drivers and/or operators who were not able to secure the new fare matrix because of problems relative to their registration or franchise documents, they can still secure one from the LTFRB if they are done with their papers.
He further reminded drivers and operators to implement the discount rates for students, senior citizens and persons with disability.
To ensure that guidelines are observed, LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office will conduct random inspections.
In the decision LTFRB released, a P1 provisional increase was approved for traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJs) and modern public utility jeepneys (MPUJs) for the first four kilometers.
The minimum fare for TPUJs will be P12 while that for MPUJs will be P14, from P11 and P13, respectively.
There will also be an additional charge of P.30 per succeeding kilometer for TPUJs, while an additional P0.40 per succeeding kilometer will be implemented for MPUJs.
With regard to public utility buses, LTFRB approved a P2 uniformed base fare increase for city and provincial buses for the first five kilometers and a subsequent per kilometer additional charge of P0.35 to P0.50 depending on the type of bus.
Also, the flagdown rate for taxis and sedan-type TNVS vehicles will now be P45 (from P40).
The per-kilometer additional charge for taxis, however, stays at P2./PN
