PHP6.50 Minimum Fare in C. Visayas Takes Effect Feb. 8

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 will implement the new minimum jeepney fare of PHP6.50 in Central Visayas starting Monday, Feb. 8.

LTFRB 7 Director Reynaldo Elnar said they received the LTFRB central office official fare reduction order Friday and scheduled its publication in a newspaper of general circulation on Sunday.

Elnar said the new fare will be implemented Monday or a day after its publication.

Elnar said the order was signed by LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez and Board Members Engr. Ronaldo Corpus and Atty. Antonio Enrile-Inton Jr. and attested by Executive Director Glenn Zaragoza.

The new fare stemmed from a petition of former Cebu City councilor Augustus Pe Jr. filed through the LTFRB regional office last Dec. 17, 2014.

The LTFRB en banc noted that recent developments show a sustained drop in the price of petroleum products.

Diesel, which fuels most jeepneys, ranged from PHP19.72 to PHP22.40 in the last two months, lower than their prices in December 2014 and January 2015.

The LTFRB has also granted a provisional fare rate in January 2015, reducing jeepney fare in Central Visayas from PHP7.50 to PHP 7 while it had yet to decide on a petition to adjust fares in the region.

Elnar said students and senior citizens will still get the mandatory 20 percent discount or a fare of PHP5.20.

Elnar warned jeepney drivers and operators to follow the law granting the 20 percent discounts to seniors and students, otherwise they will be fined PHP5,000 per violation under Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-001. (PNA) JBP/EB/PJN