LTFRB to implement PUV discounts

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday said that it is already preparing to implement fare discounts for passengers of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs).

According to LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III in a statement, the discount is in accordance with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) proposal, adding that the discount’s implementation will depend on the guidance of the latter.

“We are just waiting for the downloading of the money to the LTFRB. Pagkatapos niyan tuloy-tuloy na ‘yung Service Contracting Program (afterwards, the Service Contracting Program continues),” said  LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III.

“We also have to take the cue from the Office of the Secretary, how they intend to do it. I think ang gagawin lang nila is discount lang ang ibibigay sa mga tao para ‘yung pera na P1.2 billion mapagkasya sa maraming mga transport services on a nationwide scale,” he added.

(I think the only thing they will do is give the people a discount so that the P1.2 billion funding can be used for many transport services on a nationwide scale.)

Guadiz explained that Under DOTr’s proposal,  fares in traditional jeepneys would be returned to pre-pandemic levels or at P9 from the current P12 fare.

The agency, however, did not give a specific target date for the implementation of the said discounts.

Program needs more budget

He then expressed hope that more budget will be allotted to LTFRB so that more people will benefit from the program.

“I believe the budget may last only for about 6 months, half a year. So as early as now, I am requesting the DOTr to come up with additional funding para mapagkasya po namin hanggang sa katapusan ng taon ‘yung pera (so that we can fit the money until the end of the year),” Guadiz said in the same statement.

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JPV