DOTr: Some PUVs charging higher fare than rates LTFRB set

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday said it had received complaints of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers charging commuters with fare higher than those set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

At a public briefing, DOTr Undersecretray Timothy Batan said they received these complaints through the LTFRB.

Batan encouraged the public to report such incidents to LTFRB through its hotline at 1342 and Facebook page.

The LTFRB has said only six percent of the 250,000 target PUVs have obtained a copy of the updated fare matrix on the first day of the implementation of the fare hike on October 3.

LTFRB Board Member Mercy Jane Paras-Leynes said a P5,000 fine would be imposed for PUVs that do not display a copy of the new fare matrix based on the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-001.

The LTFRB approved a P1 provisional increase in the minimum fare for the first four kilometers of travel in public utility jeepneys (PUJs), bringing the minimum fare for traditional PUJ up to P12, and the modern PUJ up to P14.

It also approved an additional fare per succeeding kilometer, up by P0.30 for traditional PUJs to P1.80, and by P0.40 for modern PUJs to P2.20.

For public utility buses (PUBs), the minimum fare for city buses will be hiked by P2 for the first five kilometers — P13 for the regular buses, and P15 for the air-conditioned buses.

The minimum fares for provincial buses will also be hiked by P2, with succeeding kilometer fare increases ranging from P1.90 to P2.90 depending on the type of bus.

For taxis, the flag-down rate will be hiked to P45, and P40 in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Fares of transport network vehicle services (TNVS) will likewise increase to P35 for hatchback-type vehicles; P45 for sedan-type vehicles; P55 for Asian utility vehicles (AUVs) and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). —NB, GMA News