Arroyo says fare hikes start Wednesday - report

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the implementation of the provisional public transport fare increase starting Wednesday, May 21, a radio station said on Tuesday. The radio report quoted Leandro Mendoza, secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), as saying that Mrs Arroyo ordered him to push through with the increase, which was earlier suspended by the government. The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday put on hold the implementation of the provisional fare hike for public utility vehicles. The LTFRB is an attached agency of the DOTC. On Sunday, 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. 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 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. - M. Merueñas, GMANews.TV