Jeepney, bus fares Up!!!

In a further blow to the country’s already groaning consumers, public transport officials Sunday announced a provisional or temporary increase in the minimum fare of jeepneys and buses in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

The new rates will take effect at exactly 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, May 21.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it approved the new rates to give drivers temporary relief from spiraling fuel prices.

The minimum jeepney fare in these areas will be raised from P7.50 to P8 for the first four kilometers. For ordinary buses, the minimum fare will be increased from P8 to P9, while the minimum fare for air-conditioned buses will be raised to P11.50 from P10.

For provincial routes, ordinary buses may add P0.10 per kilometer while air-conditioned buses may charge P0.25 more per kilometer.

This means provincial regular buses may increase their fare from P8.50 to P9 for the first five kilometers and charge P1.40 for every succeeding kilometer.

The new rates will be in force pending resolution of the fare hike petitions filed by various jeepney and bus groups.

LTFRB Chair Thompson Lantion said in a telephone interview that the board approved the temporary fare increase on Saturday night.

Central Luzon (Region 3) covers Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. Region 4, which used to be Southern Tagalog, is currently divided into Region 4A or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), and Region 4B or Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan).

However, Lantion said, there will be no increase on the rates for every succeeding kilometer for both Metro Manila jeepneys and buses.

LTFRB also granted a separate petition filed by bus operators in Sapang Palay, Bulacan. LTFRB has provided a 20-percent discount for all bus passengers en route from Sapang Palay to Baclaran.

Senior citizens, students, and disabled passengers were also granted a 20-percent discount on their fares, Lantion added.

All buses and jeepney operators are required to post the notice for provisional fare increase on their vehicles on Wednesday, he said.

But Lantion clarified that the provisional increase could be withdrawn anytime. “The important thing is that government is responding with recognizance of the problem and we need a mitigating program to alleviate the problem of continuous oil price increase,” he said.

He added that the agency also considered the riding public. “We also have to protect the public interest,” Lantion said.

Meanwhile, he said that the agency was expecting to provide the additional P2 per liter government subsidy on fuel to all transport groups as soon as possible.