LTFRB chair: Jeepney fare won't reach P15 under PUV modernization program

Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra on Monday assured the public that the minimum jeepney fare will not reach P15 once the government's public utility vehicle modernization program is in full swing.

"Yung mga ginawang study hindi umabot 'yong pasahe na 'yan. In fact 'yong study na ginawa ng DOTr (Department of Transportation) in a number of routes in Metro Manila... Metro Manila alone we're still basing it on the current fare and not losing, " Delgra said.

The current minimum jeepney fare in Metro Manila is P8.

"On the studies that we have made is not based on P20, not even P15 ang minimum fare. It's based on the current fare, kung meron mang dagdag eh siguro, we are not even thinking that for now pero kung meron man dagdag maliit masyado," Delgra said.

The LTFRB chairman was reacting to the claim of George San Mateo, national president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), that the minimum fare of jeepneys will increase by as much as P20 due to the modernization program.

"Kasi ang gagamitin nila yung beep card eh, you have to buy it kaya ibig sabihin ang mangyayari dito sa programa nila parang MRT, you're paying more sa isang malaking negosyo then later on magiging dilapidated ang serbisyo," San Mateo explained in an interview on Unang Balita.

Elmer Labog, chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), also made the same claim.

"Ito ay kabayaran doon sa pagmodernize ng mga dating mga Pilipino engine built jeepneys so 'yun ang isang pangunahing tinututulan namin sapagkat, ang kasalukuyang jeepney ang pinakamaasahan pa rin...na mass transport system sa buong bansa," Labog said.

The KMU is one of the activist groups who support PISTON in its protest against the PUV modernization program. The transport group started its two-day strike on Monday, which forced Malacañang to suspend classes and government work nationwide.

Delgra, meanwhile, denied PISTON's claim that it was not consulted by the government on the modernization program, which aims to phase out old jeepney units.

Her said PISTON had represenatives during the regional consultation and dialogues.

"Even PISTON participated in this regional consultation sa Davao, Cebu , Manila. They were there, they were even wearing PISTON t-shirts so hindi talaga masabi na hindi sila kinokonsulta and at the end of the day, it's the dialogue that has to come into play para magikaintindihan kung ano yung mga issues na ito at hindi natin perwisyuhin yung mga mananakay," Delgra said. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG, GMA News