LTFRB 7 - Central Visayas: Report fare violators

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged the public to report any jeepney driver who refuses to honor the new P7 minimum fare that took effect yesterday so they can be investigated and penalized.

LTFRB 7 Acting Director Rey Elnar made the appeal after receiving reports that some jeepney drivers still collect not only P7.50, which was the previous official rate, but P8 because they would not give the P0.50 change.

Elnar said that once a passenger will file a complaint and submit the jeepney plate number, they will immediately summon the driver as well as the operator who will be both penalized under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-001.

The order was jointly issued by the LTFRB, represented by Chairman Winston Gines; Land Transportation Office (LTO), represented by Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr.; and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), represented by Secretary Antonio Abaya last year.

It provides the penalties for overcharging at P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense and P15,000 plus suspension of the certificate of public convenience (franchise) for the third offense.

Gines said the operators should make sure that their drivers have followed the new fare rate, as they will also be made answerable for the offense of their drivers.

On the other hand, Arthur Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the labor group will file a new petition seeking for a P5 or P6 minimum fare rate because the price of diesel, as of yesterday, was already sold at P25 per liter.

Petition

Barrit said that when former Cebu City councilor Augustus Pe Jr. filed the petition seeking for a P7 minimum jeepney fare, the price of diesel was still P37 per liter.

Barrit said it is but proper for LTFRB to further cut the minimum fare to P5, which was the rate when diesel was at P29 per liter several years ago. The reduction of minimum fare will benefit the workers in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu.

“If that is the case, then I will have to withdraw my petition. What is important is for the common good,” Pe told Sun.Star Cebu when asked for his comment.

Meanwhile, LTO 7 Director Arnel Tancinco said the refusal of the jeepney drivers to give 20 percent discounts to senior citizens, students and person with disabilities (PWDs) is a crime.

Tancinco said the fine as provided for under JAO 2014-001 is P1,000 for the erring driver and a bigger amount of P5,000 for the jeepney operator. - By Elias O. Baquero / SunStar

Jeepney fare cut by P1, Bigger rollback possible – LTFRB; adjustment draws mixed reactions

BACK TO P7.50 — The minimum fare in jeepneys is back to the P7.50 as shown here by a ‘barker’ at the terminal on Leon Guinto Street in Manila, yesterday. Top photo, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Winston Ginez holds the order slashing P1 from the previous minimum fare. (Ali Vicoy and Michael Varcas)

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday approved a P1 provisional fare rollback for jeepneys plying in Metro Manila.

The fare cut will take effect immediately, LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said.

From P8.50, the minimum fare will now be P7.50 for the first four kilometers. However, the rate for succeeding kilometers will remain the same.

The fare roll back will also be applicable to senior citizens and students, who are entitled to 20-percent discount.

Ginez said the LTFRB will issue as soon as possible a fare matrix to serve as guide to passengers and drivers alike.

In the provinces, Ginez said the LTFRB regional or provincial offices will have to implement their own fare rollback because diesel prices in these areas vary.

“We have directed them to initiate their own proceedings. Within 30 days, they have to report to the board what they have done with regard to the fare rollback. We would like that their decisions be based on regional prices,” said Ginez.

The LTFRB chairman said the rollback now is similar to 2011 when diesel prices were in the range of P34-P35, and the minimum fare was P7.50.

Ginez said the provisional rollback for now “is effective until further notice” but there is a possibility that jeepney fares might have bigger reductions in the future.

PALACE WELCOME ROLLBACK

Malacañang welcomed the P1 provisional fare rollback.

“That’s a timely decision from the LTFRB and will certainly be welcomed by the riding public,” Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said.

The fare rollback was also a welcome development for transport and consumer groups.

Elvira Medina of the National Center for Commuters Safety and Protection said it’s “about time” the rollback was implemented.

George San Mateo of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) expressed the same sentiment. However, he is concerned that the sudden implementation of the fare rollback might cause a ruckus in the streets.

He appealed to the LTFRB to set a proper date for the implementation of fare rollback to avoid discord within the streets, especially since not all drivers and passengers are aware of this provision.

Obet Martin of Pasang Masda said that the price rollback is just right since it is in accordance with diesel prices now. But like San Mateo, he is concerned that arguments might arise between drivers and passengers with the sudden implementation of the rollback.

MIXED REACTIONS

While Malacañang, consumers, and transport groups welcomed the rollback, the labor sector had mixed reactions.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay lauded the fare cut as an early “Christmas gift” for workers.

“The jeepney fare rollback is a welcome development for workers at this economically difficult period. This is a Christmas gift for minimum wage earners who commute everyday for work,” Tanjusay said.

“It’s a small amount but it’s a big relief for working people,” he added.

But the militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) demanded a higher fare rollback, saying it is not “commensurate” with the decrease in the global prices of petroleum products.

“Oil rollback should be more or at one-time not in installments.That’s cheating by big oil cartels,” KMU Chairman Elmer Labog said.

Labog also said the other private transportations like airlines, Metro Rail Transits (MRT), and the Light Rail Transits (LRT), should also follow the example of PUJs in reducing their fare rates.

He also said other private companies should also reduce prices of their services or goods to relieve workers of their financial woes.

“It’s high time for other quarters to follow suit. Like businessmen who should lower the prices of their commodities and services,” he added.

Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway had earlier filed a petition seeking a reduction in jeepney fare.

Iway had asked the LTFRB to reduce the minimum fare from P8.50 to P8 for the first four kilometers, and the succeeding kilometer rate from P1.50 to P1.40 for jeepneys in Metro Manila, Regions 3 and 4. - by Czarina Nicole O. Ong (With reports from Genalyn D. Kabiling and Samuel P. Medenilla)

Jeepney fare cut by P1

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday approved a provisional P1 rollback in the minimum fare for passenger jeepneys in Metro Manila.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said the order took effect yesterday.

Ginez said they would still issue a fare matrix as revised even if the order became effective yesterday.

The jeepney fare cut involves a decrease from P8.50 to P7.50 for the first four kilometers in Metro Manila only.

The additional fare for every succeeding kilometer will still be P1.20.

For senior citizens and students, the minimum fare will be P6.

The board’s order is in relation to the petition of Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway in October to reduce the minimum fare of jeepneys from P8.50 to P8 because of the series of rollbacks of fuel prices.

“Because of the continuing fall of world crude prices, the board moved to implement a provisional rollback of the minimum fare of passenger jeepneys in NCR (National Capital Region),” Ginez said.

The P1 fare reduction will be a big help to the public especially this Christmas season, Ginez added.

The board said the fluctuating diesel prices over the last five years dictated the minimum fare for commuter jeepneys.

In 2009, diesel price was pegged at P23 per liter. Two years later, the price went up to P37.75 per liter, resulting in fare hike from P7 to P8.

In 2012, diesel prices went up to P48 per liter, resulting in another minimum fare hike of 50 centavos to bring the fare to P8.50 for the first four kilometers.

With the series of diesel price reductions recently, the average price of diesel per liter is now at P33, prompting the board to decide to reduce the minimum fare to P7.50.

But the board’s order yesterday is only a provisional fare reduction, meaning temporary.

LTFRB board member Ariel Inton explained they deemed it necessary to issue a provisional fare rollback as they continued hearing the petition filed by Iway.

Another hearing is set on Jan. 14, Inton said.

The group ACTO, which earlier opposed Iway’s petition, has yet to submit its position paper to the board, Inton said.

He said the LTFRB had directed regional LTFRB directors to assess the prevailing condition in their areas and make recommendations if a minimum fare rollback is also feasible in their respective jurisdictions.

Elvira Medina, chair of a commuter group, welcomed the board’s ruling and said it was high time for a fare rollback, considering the decreases in fuel prices.

Labor groups welcomed the decision of the LTFRB to implement the fare reduction.

“The jeepney fare rollback is a welcome development for workers at this economically difficult period,” Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

“This is a Christmas gift for minimum wage earners who commute everyday for work. It’s a small amount, but it’s a big relief for the working people,” Tanjusay added.

The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) called on the government to also cut the fare of the Light Railway Transit (LRT) and Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT) as well as lower the prices of basic commodities and services for the benefit of lowly paid workers.

KMU chair Elmer Labog said workers nationwide are expecting more than P1 cut in jeepney fare since the amount of rollback is not commensurate to the drop in the global price of petroleum.

Labog noted that the fare rollback would also result in a huge reduction in the income of jeepney drivers.

“Even before the rollback, jeepney drivers are only earning a maximum of P400, which is below the minimum wage rate,” Labog pointed out. – By Reinir Padua (The Philippine Star) With Mayen Jaymalin