LTFRB: Decision on proposed P1 fare hike may ‘take some time’

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Wednesday that it may take a while for them to decide if they will grant the appeal of transport groups for a provisional P1 fare hike for public utility jeepneys (PUJs). 

“Actually, as to the timeline, I have to be candid and honest about this, dahil hindi nga simple ang issue na ‘to, it will take some time lang po. Pero asahan po ng ating publiko na it will be based on justifiable grounds tsaka transparent naman po at babalansehin po talaga nila bago maglabas ng order,” said LTFRB spokesperson Zoj Daphne Usita on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(Actually, as to the timeline, I have to be candid and honest about this, because this issue is not simple; it will just take some time. But the public can expect that it will be based on justifiable grounds and it will be transparent, and they will truly balance it before releasing an order.) 

The agency already directed several transport groups to submit a position paper within 10 days following a hearing last Monday. 

“...And nagpadagdag sila [board] ng position paper as part of due process kasi kailangan din makita kung ano yung justification. Aside from that, doon sa original motion nila na binigay po, mayroon nang binigay si LTFRB noong October 2023 na P1 increase. So ayun yung tinatawag natin na provisional increase na piso—kaya P13 yung sa traditional jeepney and then P15 naman po sa modern jeepney,” said Usita. 

(And they [the board] asked for an additional position paper as part of due process because they also need to see the justification. Aside from that, in their original motion that was submitted, the LTFRB already granted a P1 increase in October 2023. So that's what we call the provisional increase of one peso—that's why it's P13 for traditional jeepneys and P15 for modern jeepneys.) 

“Through their counsel, gusto nila yung piso madagdagan pa ng additional piso na provisional din po,” she added. 

(Through their counsel, they want the one peso to be increased by an additional one peso, which is also provisional.) 

The LTFRB will also consult with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) before making a decision.

“Makikipag-coordinate din kami sa NEDA [now DEPDev] kasi it will affect yung ekonomiya natin…So medyo tedious yung process para makita talaga, kahit P1 ‘yan, malaking bagay ‘yan sa maraming Pilipino,” said Usita. 

(We will also coordinate with NEDA [now DEPDev] because it will affect our economy... So the process is quite tedious to really see; even if it's P1, that's a big deal for many Filipinos.) –VBL, GMA Integrated News