P50 jeepney fare hike? ‘Statistically impossible,’ says LTFRB chair

MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III has debunked claims that jeepney fare hikes may rise as high as P50, following the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

“Napakalayo po ng P15 sa P50. Ang ganyang nilulutang ng commuter group ay walang katotohanan,” Guadiz said.

(P15 is far from P50. Such claims of commuters’ groups are not true.)

According to the LTFRB chief, the claims are “statistically impossible” and are not logical.

“Noon pa man ay binabalanse na ng LTFRB ang pangangailangan ng mga tsuper at komyuter kapag tumataas ang presyo ng petrolyo. Kaya naman ho, walang lohika ang sinasabi nilang P50 na pamasahe sa loob ng limang taon. Statistically impossible ho talaga iyon,” he said.

(Ever since before, the LTFRB has been balancing the needs of drivers and commuters when fuel prices rise. That is why there is no logic that fares may rise to P50 in five years. It is really statistically impossible.)

The LTFRB set the deadline for consolidation of franchises into cooperatives on December 31, 2023, but those that have not consolidated may still operate until January 31, the agency said in a memorandum.

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