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Gov't okays fare increase in NCR, Regions 3 and 4


MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has heeded the call of public transport groups to increase minimum fares amid the continuous spike in the prices of petroleum products. Radio dzBB's Bernie Morales on Sunday reported that LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantion signed a directive on the "provisional" increase of fares in the National Capital Region, Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4 (Calabarzon and Mimaro), which will be effective on May 21 (watch video). In Metro Manila, minimum fares in public utility jeepneys will be increased to P8.00 from P7.50. Fares in ordinary buses will be raised to P9.00 from P8.00. For air-conditioned buses, it will be P11.50 from P10.00 The said "provisional" increases will only be applied to minimum fares covering the first kilometers of travel, and not to the succeeding kilometers. In the Central and Southern Luzon provinces, ordinary buses were allowed to add 10 centavos per kilometer. Air-conditioned buses could raise fares by 25 centavos per kilometer. Provinces in Region 3 are Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. Region 4-A provinces are Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon comprise Region 4-B. Taxi fares are not included in the increase. DzBB quoted Lantion as saying that the 20-percent fare discount extended to senior citizens and students must be strictly enforced by public transport owners. Earlier, the government approved a P2 fuel subsidy to help the transport sector mitigate the impact of the rise in fuel prices. The subsidy is on top of the P1 discount on diesel. On Sunday, dzBB, quoted LTFRB officials as saying that the subsidy would also be extended to other legitimate public utility vehicles such as Tamaraw FX, and cargo trucks. On Saturday, May 17, major oil firms Pilipinas Shell and Chevron Philippines increased the prices of their petroleum products. Saturday's increase was the 11th time this year. Shell reportedly announced an increase of P0.50 per liter for diesel and P1 per liter for gasoline effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Chevron also reportedly increased its diesel and kerosene prices by P0.50 per liter and its Caltex Gold, Silver and regular gasoline by P1 per liter effective 6 a.m. Saturday. Not wanting to be caught with another surprise P1/liter price hike, motorists in Metro Manila braved the rains Friday night to fill up their gas tanks. - GMANews.TV
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