MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 3) Amid the continuing decrease in oil prices, cab, jeepney, and bus drivers and operators have agreed to a provisional fare reduction nationwide effective December 15, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced.

In a meeting Wednesday, transport groups also agreed that after a three-month period, they would reconvene and decide whether the fare cut should be permanent, but depending on local oil prices.

Bus operators, led by the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) and the Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), agreed to a P0.50 rollback for the first five kilometers of regular buses in Metro Manila or from P9.50 to P9, and a P0.10 cut for every succeeding kilometer or from P1.95 to P1.85, LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantion said on Wednesday.

Airconditioned buses in Metro Manila will retain the P11 fare for the first five kilometers, but operators agreed to a P0.15 reduction for every succeeding kilometer, or from P2.35 to P2.20.

Regular and airconditioned provincial buses agreed to a P 0.05 cut for every kilometer. For airconditioned buses, this will be from P1.70 to P1.65 and for regular buses, from P1.40 to P1.35, said PBOAP president Homer Mercado.

Jeepney groups, led by Piston (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide) and Pasang Masda, also agreed to cut fare temporarily by P0.50 for the first four kilometers and P0.10 for every succeeding kilometer, Lantion said.

In Metro Manila, this will mean a return to the P7.50 fare before the series of oil price increases were effected.

“Ang Piston at ang ilang kasama natin ay pumayag na magpatupad ng panibagong P0.50 provisional cut sa minimum [Piston and our peers agreed to implement a P0.50 provisional cut],” said Piston secretary general George San Mateo.

The P10 add-on fare for cabs has also been “provisionally removed,” Lantion said after an agreement with groups Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila (ATOMM) and the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA).

Initially, taxi groups expressed uncertainty over the fare cut, saying it took them four years before the P30 flag down rate was approved by the LTFRB in 2008, said PNTOA president and Quezon City councilor Bong Suntay.

“But taxi groups are the easiest groups to talk to and we are amenable to a provisional fare cut. Prices of fuel are still too volatile but we are willing to work with the LTFRB in trying to ease the burden of the commuters,” Suntay said.

The provisional fare reduction will initially be implemented for three months effective December 15. The LTFRB will no longer issue new fare matrices for the fare cut since it will be provisional, Lantion said, but the agency will be releasing new fare guides, which transport operators have to post in either their jeepneys or buses.

Lantion also said that taxis could retain their P10 add-on stickers provided that they would no longer implement it. Should taxi drivers insist or demand the P10 add-on fare December 15 onwards, commuters could report the incident to the LTFRB Hotline at 7890.

“It is gratifying because this is a fare rollback and it really helps our commuters. I would like to thank them [transport groups], congratulate them, for the cooperation they have extended in this petition. Not only that it is coming from this agency, we shall continue our efforts so we can still further give respite to the spikes of fuel prices. If the downtrend continues, then we make our adjustments accordingly,” Lantion said.

By next week, the LTFRB will be publishing the agency’s decision as well as the new fare guide on major newspapers nationwide. At the same time, Lantion said he would be meeting with regional LTFRB directors to discuss the fare cut for other regions.

On February 18, transport groups will again convene at the LTFRB office to discuss as to whether they will retain the fare cut or revert back to original rates, depending on local oil prices.

The fare reduction stemmed from a series of petitions filed by commuters group National Council for Commuters’ Protection (NCCP), led by president Elvira Medina.