P6.50 minimum jeepney fare in Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor mulled by LTFRB-7

CEBU CITY—Commuters in Central Visayas may enjoy fare cuts in public utility jeepneys (PUJ) soon.

Reynaldo Elnar, director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) director, said a pending petition for a P1-fare reduction in the entire Central Visayas might be discussed and resolved during the regional management conference in Cagayan de Oro City on January 27 to 29, which would also be attended by LTFRB chair Winston Ginez.

In the case of Cebu, it has started enforcing a minimum jeepney fare at P7 after the LTFRB-7 granted a 50-centavo provisional reduction based on the petition of former Cebu City Councilor Augustus Jun Pe.

The pending petition, meanwhile, for a region-wide P1 fare cut was filed in August 2015 by  Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway, former LTFRB-7 director.

Elnar said the fare reduction would likely be granted because the prices of fuel have drastically dropped.

If granted, the minimum jeepney fare in Central Visayas – Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor –would be down to P6.50 from the provisional P7 in Cebu and P7.50 in Bohol and Siquijor for the first five kilometers.

Starting Friday, the minimum jeepney fare in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces) for the first four kilometers will be reduced to P7 from P7.50 because of the fuel price rollbacks, especially on diesel, which is commonly used by public utility jeepneys.  SFM