LTFRB processing P10 jeepney fare hike petition

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is currently processing a petition filed by transport group PISTON seeking a P10 increase in the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys.

In Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, transport groups MANIBELA and PISTON staged back-to-back protests in Quezon City as part of a nationwide strike.

The groups said the recent rollback in pump prices remains insufficient.

“If compared to last week’s trading, which ranged from $83 to $93 per barrel, the price of diesel should now be only P75 per liter,” said MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena.

MANIBELA is also pushing to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and is calling on the government to remove the 12% value-added tax and excise tax on diesel.

Meanwhile, PISTON is hoping its petition to raise the minimum jeepney fare to P23 will be approved.

“This is not meant to improve the lives of drivers, but to recover the significant losses and allow them to continue serving the public,” said PISTON president Mody Floranda.

LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza has directed the agency’s legal division to act on the petition, the report said.

A noise barrage was also held in Pasig City, where protesting public utility vehicle drivers called for commuters’ understanding.

In Parañaque City, the strike had minimal impact, with several jeepneys still operating. Many drivers in Manila also did not join the protest.

MANIBELA also raised concerns that some modern jeepney drivers under the government’s service contracting program are not providing fare discounts.

“There is no ‘service contracting’ sign. They are cheating. They are earning from the program but not giving discounts,” Valbuena said.

Some banners on modern jeepneys along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City were found folded, particularly the sections indicating discounted fares.

“Something happened to the radiator; it overheated,” one jeepney conductor said.

“The radiator is covered because it might overheat,” another said, adding that they still offer discounts to passengers.

Some passengers said they were informed of the discount when boarding.

“They themselves told me there was a discount on the jeepney I rode,” a student said.

However, others said they were not informed of any discount.

“There was none. I didn’t know. We still paid the same fare. No one mentioned a discount,” one passenger said.

The LTFRB said it will deploy “mystery riders” to board modern jeepneys and anonymously check compliance with service contracting guidelines.

Under the program, all passengers are entitled to a 20% fare discount, while senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students are entitled to a 40% discount.

Jeepneys that fail to display required banners and QR codes may be disqualified from the program.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA News