Mindanao transport groups to implement reduced fare rates

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Lower jeepney fares in Mindanao’s cities are expected to take effect either Friday or Monday, leaders of drivers’ groups and the regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office said Wednesday. Local LTFRB officials told BusinessWorld they have yet to be officially informed by Manila on the issue, although drivers could immediately start collecting lower fares pending the official notice. The regulator on Tuesday approved provisional fare cuts for the first four kilometers of P0.50 for jeepneys and P1 for buses. The previous fares before the cuts were P8.50 for jeepneys and P10 for buses. In this city, some jeepney drivers have started to give a P0.50 change for commuters paying the minimum fare of P8. Most jeepney drivers, however, said they will await the LTFRB’s formal order. Edil Gonzaga, spokesman of transport group Transmission-Piston, said they "will immediately implement the 50-centavo" fare cut once ordered by the regulator. A regional LTFRB official said that some groups have suggested collecting lower fares starting Friday in Cagayan de Oro City, but noted this may be deferred to Monday. The minimum jeepney fare in Cagayan de Oro City is P7. Jimmy A. Bullezer, a jeepney driver, said they oppose the lower fares since gasoline and diesel prices could go higher in the coming months. On the other hand, Colin S. Torres, an insurance manager, said the failure to immediately apply lower fares in the region is unfair to commuters. "It takes too long to implement lower fare rates here even if oil prices are already going down," he said. Bus and jeepney operators in General Santos City have yet to reduce fare rates. Larry B. Villegas, chairman of the Transport Integrated Restructuring for Economic Services, said jeepney operators are asking for more time to implement the lower fares. Mr. Villegas’ group counts among its members operators belonging to the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide and 17 local tricycle associations. Norlan Yap, personnel manager of major regional transport provider Yellow Bus Line, Inc., said the company will reduce fares in the next few days. "In fact, we have been computing [Tuesday] by how much would be the reduction in our various routes," Mr. Yap said in a separate interview. The transport sector in Zamboanga City is also awaiting word from the regulator. "We have yet to get an official directive from the LTFRB before we would start collecting a new fare," said one driver. The current minimum fare in Zamboanga City is P7. Eduardo M. Mingala, president of the transport group Federation of Land Transportation Association of Zamboanga, was unavailable for comment. Autogas price cut Meanwhile, Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. has cut its price for autogas, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for vehicles, by P3.60 per liter given the huge drop in LPG contract price. In a text message, Unioil said that they have cut the price at 2:01 p.m. Wednesday. Unioil Spokesman Raymond T. Zorrilla said the price cut brought autogas to P26.90/liter. He added further cuts are expected due to the more than $300 drop in contract price, or from $804 in October to $490 this month. Petron Corp., Total Philippines, Inc. and independent retailers early in the week have already cut their autogas prices by P2.50/liter, P2.70/liter and P1.50/liter, respectively. — Mindanao Bureau and Ava Kashima K. Austria, BusinessWorld