Wednesday, July 21, 2004 Nilo lauds LTFRB for holding public hearing on fare hike By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO City Councilor Nilo G. Abellera Tuesday lauded the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for addressing the clamor to reduce the existing public utility jeepney fare scheme.
Abellera, who is the proponent of the resolution requesting the LTFRB to conduct a public hearing on the P1.50 fare increase, said that under the proposed reduction of fare scheme for public utility jeepneys (PUJ), the drivers will be charging P5.50 for the first five-kilometer distance plus .75 centavos for every succeeding kilometer.
On June 12, the PUJ drivers began increasing the P4-fare rate to P5.50 for the first four kilometers and P1 for the succeeding kilometers.
However, the increase in fare drew various complaints from the riding public saying the LTFRB decision was unfair and inconsistent with the demands of the drivers and operators and the commuters.
"LTFRB's gesture of conducting the public hearing on its own initiative should inspire other agencies in giving urgency to issues that directly affect the consumers and the public at large," Abellera said.
The LTFRB, meanwhile, is yet to come up today with its decision whether or not to approve the proposed new fare scheme.
If the proposal will be approved, then the LTFRB will issue a new fare matrix to be posted inside the vehicle.
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