Fare hike to take effect next week - LTFRB official

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday said the fare increase would most likely be implemented next week and not this Thursday or Friday as earlier announced, as the fare matrix would only available for distribution on Monday. In an interview with radio dzBB, lawyer Emmanuel Mahipus, LTFRB director, said jeepney and bus drivers cannot collect additional fares without a fare matrix. "The matrix would be available Monday but we'll do overtime kaya magme-meeting kami sa leaders ng mga jeepney mamaya (so we will meet the leaders of jeepney groups later in the afternoon)," Mahipus said. He said a fare matrix is a requirement before a public utility driver could implement fare increase. "Kung walang matrix, hindi muna pwedeng mangolekta dahil wala kang guide (If a driver has not secured a fare matrix, he cannot collect additional fares as he still have no basis for implementing such)," Mahipus said. He said the LTFRB is set to meet transport groups later in the day to discuss the dsitribution of fare matrix to the drivers. Mahipus said a fare matrix is needed as "we don't want to leave it to the driver and passenger arguing on the street on how much they have to pay for a certain distance." "Kasi ang practical aspect n'yan (fare matrix) wala kang basehan sa sisingilin mong pamasahe (The practical aspect of having a fare matrix is for the driver to have a basis on how a passenger should pay)," the LTFRB official said. He said the LTFRB's technical group is now computing the fare increase for Metro Manila's 900 routes. Mahipus said some 60,000 public utility units are in Metro Manila. He said the process of showing the matrix to the transport organizations and operators might take time so they thought of giving it in bulk. "Isang bagsak na lang isang kuha, ipamimigay na lang pupunta doon yung liason, i-compute namin, balikan pagka-hapon (We are planning of giving it in bulk to the liason officer of a transport organization who will distribute it to their members. The liason officer will ask us for a computation and he can return in the afternoon to get it)," Mahipus said. For drivers who are not members of any transport group, the LTFRB might implement an odd-even scheme where those whose plate number ends with an odd digit will go on Monday while those with an even digit, on Tuesday. He said the LTFRB would also be adding lanes for those who will get the fare matrix. Asked if the agency needs more time to do this, he answered: "We have to. We cannot move in haste, otherwise we will create disorder." He said they are also considering the request of other groups to allow photocopies of the fare matrix but some transport organizations are wary that colorum vehicles might take advantage of it. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Tuesday approved petitions for a fare hike for passenger jeeps, buses and taxicabs. With the approval of fare hike petitions, the minimum jeepney fare will go up from P8 to P8.50 for the first four kilometers with additional P0.25 for succeeding kilometers. With the adjustment, jeepneys would now be charging an additional P1.50 from the P1.25 initially granted to them in May as a provisional increase. The NEDA also approved a P10 across the board hike on taxi fares. Minimum fares for ordinary buses, meanwhile, will go up by P1 from P9 to P10 for the first five kilometers with P0.20 to be added to P1.75 for succeeding kilometers. This would make Aircon buses, on the other hand, are also expected to raise their fare by 20 percent of the current price. - GMANews.TV