MANILA, Philippines — The new minimum jeepney fare across the country will be P11 beginning Friday, July 1, as the government regulator has approved the provisional adjustment.
On the other hand, modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will adjust their base fare from P11 to P13 starting this Friday.
This developed as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted the consolidated petitions of jeepney operators and drivers amid consecutive increases in the prices of petroleum products.
“Given the volatile and contingent circumstances the public transport sector are in at the moment, peculiar facts and factors should be taken into account for rate-fixing/ determination,” the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) stated in its seven-page order signed by chair Martin Delgra III.
“Accordingly, a just rate must be founded upon conditions which are fair and reasonable both to the public utility and the riding public itself,” it also stated in the order dated June 29.
FILE PHOTO: Jeepneys stop at the designated loading and unloading area in Manila on Thursday, November 21, 2019, as traffic enforcers direct traffic flow. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Since a provisional P1 hike was already implemented in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon from June 8, the minimum jeepney fare in these regions will be increased by P1 starting July 1, with no increase in the succeeding kilometers.
As for the rest of the regions, the base jeepney fare will be increased by P2 – from P9 to P11 – beginning July 1.
The LTFRB said the provisional increase for PUJ fare are subject to the following conditions:
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All PUJ services are directed to grant to qualified senior citizens utilizing their services a fare discount of not less than 20% of the approved provisionally increased/discounted fares upon presentation of their senior citizen identification cards.
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Students are entitled to a student fare discount of not less than 20% of the approved provisionally increased/discounted fares EVERYDAY upon presentation of their ID cards or registration cards, both duly validated by their schools, bearing their pictures with their names and schools indicated therein.
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The fare discount of not less than 20% of the approved increased fares shall also apply to disabled persons.
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All PUJ operators shall post a Notice of Fare Increase inside their public utility vehicles that would be conspicuously seen by the riding public.
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No Increase of Rate and revision of Fare Matrix shall be imposed and, or, collected.
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In the imposition of the new authorized fare, grantees of Certificate/s of Public Convenience concerned shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Board, the provisions of the Public Service Law (CA. 146) as amended, and also the requirements for public transport services
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This Order shall take effect immediately a day after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
“Let it not be said that the agency is indifferent to the plight suffered by the transport sector due to an increase of fuel prices,” the LTFRB said in the order.