FILE PHOTO: Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone has requested the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to review the fare rates currently being implemented by operators and drivers of public utility jeepneys and buses.
In an April 22 letter to LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III, the governor said that the province is already under Alert Level 1 from April 16-30, 2022, and jeepneys and buses are now allowed to implement at full seating capacity as per the Board’s Memorandum Circular No 2022-028.
Evardone emphasized that despite the implementation of full seating capacity, public transport in the province still imposes high fare rates allowed when the seating capacity was regulated to 50 percent or 70 percent.
“We would like to request your good office to look into our situation and help us address the plea of commuters in our province,” he said in his letter.
READ: Metro Manila remains under Alert Level 1 until April 30
Before the pandemic, the general rate of public transport in the province was at P50 but rose to P150 due to the health crisis.
Evardone stressed that the high fare rates become a burden for commuters, especially the students and teachers who are now reporting to schools due to the implementation of limited in-person classes.
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