LTFRB approves jeepney fare hike, minimum pegged at P10

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has granted transport groups' petition to increase the minimum jeepney fare to P10, but the Department of Transportation-LTFRB clarified that the decision is still not official and cannot be implemented yet.

According to a copy of the decision obtained by GMA News Online on Wednesday, the LTFRB resolved to "grant the petition for a fare increase, to make permanent the provisional fare increase of P1 granted on July 6, 2018 and an additional P1 for the first four kilometers or a minimum fare of P10 from the original fare of P8."

READ: P10 minimum jeepney fare approved. DOTr-LTFRB, however, clarified it is yet to release official decision | via @Ted_Cordero pic.twitter.com/N1I9uaYq6m

— GMA News (@gmanews) October 17, 2018

The decision was signed by LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III, and Board Member Ronaldo Corpus.

Above Board Member Aileen Lizada's name was a hand written note stating she has a dissenting opinion.

In its decision, the LTFRB denied to grant a P1 increase for every succeeding kilometer after the first four kilometers due to "lack of factual and reasonable basis."

Furthermore, the petition seeking for an additional P2 fare increase to make the minimum jeepney fare P12 was "denied for factual and legal basis."

The decision shall take effect 15 days upon publication in a newspaper of general and or local circulation.

Not yet official

The Department of Transportation-LTFRB, however, clarified that the decision granting a fare increase is not yet official.

"We regret that a document was leaked even before it was certified as official. Please be informed that the LTFRB will release an official copy once the document is signed by the LTFRB Executive Director and is marked as docketed," the DOTr-LTFRB said.

"We request the drivers to wait until the LTFRB releases the official document on the fare hike before charging any additional fare," it added.

The LTFRB's decision stemmed from the petition filed by the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization of the Philippines, Land Transportation Organization of the Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburb Drivers Nationwide Inc. in September 2017 amid the increases in diesel pump prices. —NB, GMA News