ILOILO City – Beginning today, the minimum fare in traditional jeepneys is P11, up by P2 from the previous P9.
On the other hand, the minimum fare in modernized jeepneys is P13, up by P2 also from the previous P11.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) central office ordered the increase.
“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 coronavirus disease pandemic,” the LTFRB said in a statement.
Examining the complexities of the various concerns of stakeholders, the Board said it sought to balance these guided by the principle that now more than ever, the need for the riding public to have mass transportation must be sufficiently met.
According to Atty. Jun Altura, legal counsel of LTFRB Region 6, there is no more need for jeepney drivers and operators to secure a fare matrix because there are no changes in the rates being charged for every succeeding kilometer after the base or minimum fare (covering the first four kilometers), which is P1.50 in traditional jeepneys and P2 in modernized jeepneys.
Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC), said the P2 increase is lower than the P6 they asked.
He lamented that in the next few weeks, there would be another round of fuel price increase and a liter of diesel is projected to hit P100.
“Ang mga drivers indi na gid makaagwanta. Tama kamahal sang diesel kag gasolina. Manubo lang sang pila ka sentimos tapos mataas naman sang pila ka pisos,” said Parcon.
The transport sector, he said, looks forward to what President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will do to help public utility vehicle drivers and operators.
WVTC is an umbrella organization of the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers’ Association (ICLAJODA), the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (ICADA), and Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICAJODA)./PN
