Fare rollback for jeeps, buses starts Monday

MANILA, Philippines - The P7.50 minimum fare for public utility jeeps (PUJs) will take effect starting Monday, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Thompson Lantion announced on Sunday. “Effective Monday, the minimum fare for PUJs is P7.50 for the first four kilometers and additional 10 centavos per every next kilometer," Lantion told reporters at the Balitaan sa Tinapayan forum held in Sampaloc, Manila. Prior to the rollback, the minimum fare was pegged at P8.50 for PUJs. At the forum, Lantion also disclosed the new minimum fare for public utility buses (PUBs). “The minimum fare for PUBs is now P9 from P9.50," he told reporters. Lantion said the LTFRB will also remove the P10 add on for taxi fare starting Monday. However, the LTFRB chief said the rollback is only temporary. The provisional reduction would be implemented until March 15, 2009, he said. He said the LTFRB would hold a hearing on February 18, 2009, for a petition to make the rollback permanent. “We will decide if the reduction will be permanent or temporary or if there will be decrease or increase in fare depending on the oil price in the world market," said Lantion. The fare rollback does not cover FX taxis at the meantime. The 50-centavo fare reduction also applies throughout the archipelago. The LTFRB will be going after driver and operators refusing to roll back fares. Lawyer Emmanuel Mahipus, LTFRB executive director and spokesman, said a P3,000 fine will be imposed for the first offense; P4,000 for second offense; and P5,000 for the third offense. The franchise of the operator will be suspended for the fourth offense and canceled for the fifth offense. Lantion also reminded operators and drivers of the PUBs and PUJs to honor the 20-percent fare discount for students and senior citizens. - GMANews.TV