By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Jan 25 (PNA) — Good news for commuters from Regions 1, 2 and 6: The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday announced provisional reduction of Php P0.50 to minimum jeep fare.
According to the LTFRB, all three regions will cut minimum fare rate by Php0.50 due to the continuous fall of oil prices in the world market.
However, the board said that the minimum fare reduction only covers the first four kilometers in Regions 1 and 2, and the first five kilometers in Region 6. The fare rate for succeeding kilometer in Regions 1 and 2 remained at Php1.40, and Php1.15 in Region 6.
Meanwhile, persons with disability (PWDs), senior citizens and student in the region will continue to receive 20 percent discounted fare rate.
To recall, the board’s regional offices in the three regions conducted simultaneous public consultations last Jan 16 attended by various representatives of consumer groups, academe and drivers and/or jeep operators’ associations to discuss the rollback.
Upon the recommendation of the three regional offices, the board decided to provisionally reduce the minimum jeep fare from Php8.50 to Php8 in Region 1, from Php8 to Php7.50 in Region 2, and from Php7.50 to Php7 in Region 6.
LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez in a statement said that the board’s regional offices immediately conformed with the order to hear out the opinion of different sectors through public hearing.
“(This) allow(ed) us to implement fare rollbacks in their respective places,” Ginez said in the vernacular.
He further said that the board has also ordered other regional directors to organize public hearing in their respective areas to assess the impact of the continuous drop in fuel prices to bus and other vehicle operators and the commuters.
The prices of diesel had already dropped nine consecutive times bringing the accumulated total net decrease to an average of Php9.70 per liter.
Last week, major oil companies implemented a Php1.25 and Php1.45 per liter rollback in gasoline and diesel prices, respectively, the latest rollback is the third consecutive price cut this year.
Also last week, jeep fare rate in Regions 7 and 10 were also reduced by Php0.50. (PNA)