LTFRB vows to review fee of new jeepney fare matrix

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra III on Tuesday vowed to review the P610 fee being collected for the fare matrix needed by jeepney drivers to impose the new P10 fare.

"We inherited that already that's why even I will have to look into it, will make a review on the matter. Pero matagal na po 'yan. In fact, natanong ko 'yung isang board member natin dito ngayon na nagsilbihan na," Delgra said in a phone interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

Aside from the difficult process of securing copies of the new fare matrix, transport groups and jeepney drivers expressed dismay over the fee that they had to pay following the approval of the fare increase in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Tagalog.

PUJ operators say they have to pay 610 pesos for a copy of their Fare Matrix. pic.twitter.com/izdhJ7r4M0

— Chino Gaston (@chinogaston) November 5, 2018

The breakdown of the P610 fee is as follows:

• P40 for franchise verification
• P50 for fare matrix, and
• P520 for increase of rate

According to Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) president George San Mateo, previous fare matrices were free.

"Alam mo dati 'yang fare matrix, 'di naman 'yan binabayaran. Kumukuha ka lang ng master copy para doon sa ruta. Eh siyempre sa ruta pare-parehas naman 'yung sa ruta eh. Ngayon ginawa nu'ng panahon ni Gloria [Macapagal-Arroyo], ginawang original kada isang operator so tapos babayaran mo 'yun," San Mateo said in a separate interview on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

He acknowledged the importance of having the new fare matrix posted in jeepneys in order to serve as a guide for passengers. However, he noted that the LTFRB is complicating the process of securing the fare matrix.

"Biro mo ang purpose lang naman niyan ay guide sa pasahero para alam nila na magkano 'yung dapat nilang babayaran. Eh ginawa pang komplikado ng LTFRB na hanggang ngayon nananatili 'yang ganyang sistema," San Mateo said.

"Kaya 'yan umabot ng P610 na fare matrix. P50 'yun pero para makuha mo 'yun kailangan magbabayad ka pa sa LTFRB ng increase of rate fee... Parang ano 'yan administrative fee na hinihingi ng LTFRB. Tapos P40 na franchise na verification. Tapos 'yung P50 na halaga ng papel nung taripa. Kaya P610 [ang total fee]," he added.

The LTFRB required jeepney operators and drivers to obtain a copy of the new fare matrix so they can legally charge passengers with the minimum fare of P10.

Violators may be fined from P5,000 to P15,000. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News