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LTFRB allows P1 rollback in jeep fares


(UPDATED 9:02 p.m.)Good news for jeepney riders: The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Thursday approved a P1 rollback in minimum jeepney fares.
 
LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said the rollback will take effect on Friday instead of Thursday.
 
With this, the minimum fare will go down from P8.50 to P7.50, the report said.

A later tweet by dzBB's Gatus said the LTFRB also meant the minimum fare for students and senior citizens would now be P6.

 
The rollback stemmed from the successive rollbacks of prices of diesel.

In a post on its Twitter account, the LTFRB described the rollback as a "provisional decrease," and that it would cover only Metro Manila.



‘A timely decision’

In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Usec. Abigail Valte expressed support for the LTFRB’s decision to roll back jeepney fares in Metro Manila.
 
“That’s a timely decision from the LTFRB and will certainly be welcomed by the riding public,” Valte said in a text message.
 
Militant group wants other rollbacks
 
But while the militant Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) welcomed the rollback, it also called for price rollbacks in basic goods and services.
 
"Welcome natin ang announcement ng LTFRB. Hinihiling sana namin ang gobyerno ... kalampagin ang malalaking kompanya, ang manufacturers, na ibaba ang presyo ng pangunahing bilihin at serbisyo," PISTON secretary general George San Mateo said in an interview with dzBB's Allan Gatus.

Transport group Stop & Go Coalition, on the other hand, agreed with the P1 rollback in minimum jeepney fares, despite the lack of forewarning from the LTFRB.
 
"Wala pang pagpupulong ang aming samahan, pero bilang pangulo siguro, aakuin ko na lang ito kasi nakita ko 'yung dating mga nag-o-oppose noon, isa ako sa mga nago-oppose, sumasangayon na sila ngayon," Jun Magno, Stop & Go Coalition president, said on GMA News TV's Balitanghali Thursday.

 
He said the majority of their coalition agreed so far, and added that the rollback was their way of helping commuters.
 
"Hindi ko alam kung pinatupad na ng ibang grupo, pero kung 'yun po ang kautusan ng LTFRB, susunod po kami," Magno said.
 
However, he asked that future fare hikes be made effective immediately to match the newest price drop.
 
"Sana kapag nagtaas ng pamasahe, immediate rin. Hindi na dumadaan sa petisyon kasi ito, parang walang petisyon 'to," explained Magno. —Joel Locsin, Andreo Calonzo and Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News

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