Transport group volunteers 50¢ fare cut

DAGUPAN CITY—One of the biggest transport groups in Pangasinan province has volunteered to cut 50 centavos from the prevailing P8 fare starting Feb. 1.

The Alliance of United Transport Organizations Province-wide (Autopro) made the commitment amid local petitions for reduced fares pending in the Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board (LTFRB).

Benny Fabia Aquino, Autopro president, said his group decided to “voluntarily and temporarily” reduce the minimum fare because of low fuel prices.

The minimum fare in the province is P8 for the first four kilometers and additional P1.50 for each of the succeeding kilometer, which was enforced in 2008 when the diesel pump price was P42 per liter.

As of Friday, the pump price for diesel in the province dropped to P17.10 a liter in some towns. “We have filed a petition in the LTFRB for the voluntary fare rollback. But even if the LTFRB will not approve it, we will implement the reduced fare,” said Aquino.

He said Autopro mistakenly assumed they were included in the petition filed by the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto), with which the Pangasinan group is affiliated.

On Jan. 22, the LTFRB ordered a provisional 50-centavo reduction of fares for the first four kilometers for jeepneys plying in Metro Manila, and central and southern Luzon, after Acto, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Liga ng mga Tsuper at Operator sa Pilipinas Inc. and Pasang Masda Nationwide Inc. petitioned LTFRB to allow a voluntary rollback.

Because the Autopro rollback was voluntary and temporary, its members could again charge passengers the P8-minimum fare if diesel prices climb to P20 a liter, Aquino said. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon