P8 jeep fare takes effect Friday

Starting tomorrow, commuters in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon shall pay the minimum jeepney fare of P8 from P7 after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved the provisional increase of P1 in jeepney fare.

LTFRB board member Atty. Aileen Lizada said the order was signed Wednesday.

“Tomorrow (Thursday), the

order will be out on newspapers, then Friday it will be effective,” she confirmed to Manila Bulletin in a text message yesterday.

Jeepney drivers shall charge commuters 18 for the first four kilometers and 11.50 every kilometer thereafter, Lizada added.

She said the LTFRB order on the fare hike is by virtue of the agency’s “quasi-judicial function” which does not need 15 days to take effect.

“Pursuant to Sec. 9 of Rule 12 of the Revised Rules and Procedures of the LTFRB, all resolutions disposing of the Petitions for Fare Adjustment shall take effect only after publication in a newspaper of general or local circulation, as the case may be, prior to implementation. In case of Provisional Orders relating to Petitions for Fare adjustment, the same shall take effect only after publication in a newspaper of general or local circulation, as the case may be, prior to implementation,” she explained.

The LTFRB granted the provisional fare increase Monday based on the petition of transport groups ACTO, Pasang Masda, Fejodap, ITap who have been appealing since last year for a fare hike citing “rising fuel prices and cost of living.”

Lizada also clarified that only those in Regions 3, 4A, 4B, and Metro Manila are entitled to the fare hike since only those areas were covered by the petition.

P30 flag down rate Meanwhile, Lizada said the P10 fare hike for taxi cabs will not take effect until the LTFRB has decided on the petition of three taxi operators’ groups for Metro Manila, Cebu and Panay Islands.

While they have granted members of the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA), Cebu Taxi Operators and Panay Taxi Operators the temporary authority to charge a P40 base fare, Lizada said they are still reviewing the order.

They are also studying whether or not to include taxis in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) which charge a P20 base fare.

“Next month, most probably. The order is being reviewed (because) there is a concern over CAR,” Lizada said.

The LTFRB in 2016 implemented a P10 decrease in taxi fare nationwide – from P40 to P30 – due to the series of rollbacks in fuel prices.