ILOILO City – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 urged the public to report jeepney drivers who impose the new minimum fare but without displaying the new fare matrix.
The new minimum fare in this city and Iloilo province – P8.50 for regular passengers and P6.80 for senior citizens, students and persons with disabilities – takes effect today.
Only jeepneys displaying new fare matrixes from LTFRB can collect the new fare, said Regional Director Richard Osmeña.
LTFRB alone could not possibly apprehended all violators, he explained, so public help is important.
Erring drivers face a fine of P5,000.
“Magsumbong sa amon…we can act on it,” said Osmeña.
Citing LTFRB-6 records as of yesterday afternoon, Osmeña said only 10 percent of jeepney operators have so far secured the new fare matrix.
“Very gamay, kulang pa,” he lamented.
There are around 11,000 registered passenger jeepneys in Panay Island and Negros Occidental, said Osmeña.
Today is the last day for the issuance of the new fare matrix. It costs P610.
Osmeña said there could be an extension but he would check with the LTFRB central office first.
LTFRB-6 started releasing the new fare matrix on Aug. 22.
The previous minimum fare was P6.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.15 for every succeeding kilometer.
LTFRB approved a P2 increase in the minimum fare (this time for the first four kilometers). There is no new rate for succeeding kilometers.
According to Osmeña, the fare matrix must be prominently displayed inside jeepneys so all passengers could see it.
“Our jeepney drivers are happy. The fare increase would somehow ease the financial burdens of their poor families,” according to Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association president Raymundo Parcon, one of the fare hike petitioners.
The other petitioners were the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association and the Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Owners and Drivers and Association.
They cited the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law’s additional excise tax on petroleum products, basic commodities and vehicle spare parts.
They actually asked for a P5.50 hike but LTFRB-6 recommended only P2.50 to its central office but what was approved was only P2./PN
