LTFRB asked: Let PUJs hike fares during rush hour

A transport group asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday to resolve its 2015 petition to increase the minimum jeepney fare by P1 during rush hour.

The Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon (Kapit) said that if the LTFRB can allow vehicles under car-booking applications like Grab and Uber to implement price surges during rush hour, it can also do the same for public utility jeepneys.

Kapit national president Vigor Mendoza said the group filed the fare hike petition last year and it was already submitted for decision in March.

“Such unreasonable (five-month) delay has caused grave prejudice on the part of the jeepney operators and drivers,” the group said in a motion filed in the LTFRB on Aug. 17.

Kapit is asking for a P1 adjustment for the first four kilometers during the morning rush hour (5 a.m. to 8 a.m.) and afternoon (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

“This will only apply to vehicles that are brand new or at the latest, registered with the Land Transportation Office last year,” Mendoza added, noting that the group patterned this after the requirement of the LTFRB for Uber and Grab car vehicles to be not older than three years.