‘Bakit iba-iba yung singil nila?’ Riders report fickle fares on EDSA bus carousel

How much is the bus fare from Ayala Avenue to Q-Mart?

This is what Tony Dela Cruz wants to know, after being charged different fares for the same distance on different days on the EDSA bus carousel.

In Cedric Castillo’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, some commuters are finding out that the fares seem to change with every ride—and are different from the rates on the fare matrix established by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Kahapon P20 to P22 lang kami, Ayala dito sa Q-Mart. Ngayon P30 na ang sinisingil,” said Dela Cruz, a senior citizen, after a heated exchange with the driver and the conductor of the bus.

"Sir, pasensiya na po," said driver Ricky Mercado, shaking Dela Cruz's hand while brandishing a copy of the LTFRB fare matrix.

"Okay lang, ayusin niyo," Dela Cruz replied.

Mercado said that they were following the new fare matrix—one that they themselves are still getting used to since the government ended its Libreng Sakay program just a few days earlier.

“Ang masabi ko sa bagong pamasahe, lahat ng konduktor naninibago pa sa pamasahe dahil nag-iba eh,” the bus driver said.

According to the LTFRB's fare matrix, the regular fare from Ayala, Makati to Q-Mart, Quezon City is P29, while the discounted fare is P23.

Neither amount matches with the fares paid by Dela Cruz on different days.

At the Ortigas bus stop, a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) constable also pointed out that he paid P36 yesterday, then P39 for the same ride today.

“Nagtataka rin kasi unang una, kailangan meron tayong yung pare-parehas na fare. Kaya nga meron tayong fare matrix. Eh bakit iba-iba yung singil nila,” he said.

Digital device

GMA Integrated News got on a bus and was charged P26 to ride from EDSA North Avenue to Ortigas—the amount registered by the bus conductor's digital ticketing apparatus for the distance.

On the LTFRB fare matrix, however, the fare to go from EDSA North Avenue to Ortigas was listed at P22.

The ride back on a different bus from Ortigas to EDSA North Avenue, meanwhile, cost P28—again different from the P22 on the fare matrix, and also different from the P25 listed on the driver's sheet.

In response, the LTFRB said that its fare matrix should be followed.

“Ang LTFRB po ay naglagay ng mga tarpaulin diyan sa mga bus stations sa EDSA busway para doon sa matrix ng kanilang pamasahe. Makikita mo 'yung extension to extension kung magkano ang ang babayaran nila,” said Joel Bolano, the head of LTFRB's technical division.

“Ipaabot niyo lang po sa LTFRB sa aming social media account, at sa aming hotline 1342 para ma-address po ng LTFRB at may kaukulang parusa 'yan, pag may violation sila, lalo na sa pamasahe,” he added.

Libreng Sakay to return

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), meanwhile, announced that the free ride program is likely to return later this year.

“Kaugnay nito, nagsasagawa na ng plano ang DOTr at [LTFRB] sa muling pagpapatupad ng Service Contracting Program sa bung bansa katuwang ang Local Government Units (LGUs),” the DOTr said.

“Mayroong P2.16 billion na pondo para sa Service Contracting Program sa ilalim ng 2023 GAA-Php 1.285 Billion para sa programmed appropriations at Php 875 Million para naman sa unprogrammed appropriations,” it added.

“Hopefully, kung makakahabol ng first quarter the better pero kung sakali baka second quarter,” Bolano said. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA Integrated News