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Thursday, July 10, 2008
P8 minimum fare takes effect Friday
DAVAO CITY -- The minimum jeepney fare in Davao City will now be at P8.00 for the first four kilometers starting on Friday, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Southern Mindanao.
The fare rate hike was approved by the LTFRB central office in Manila last Tuesday and is to be imposed nationwide on Friday.
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An increase of P1.00 for the minimum fare and another P0.25 increase for every succeeding kilometer was granted by the LTFRB.
However, in Davao City, only a P0.50 increase will be felt by commuters since a P0.50 provisional increase was earlier imposed last May.
"The minimum fare will be at P8.00 for the first four kilometers, and P1.50 for every succeeding kilometer," Edgar Violan, administrative officer of the LTFRB, said in an interview Wednesday.
Prior to last Tuesday's increase, the minimum fare in Davao City was only at P7.50 for the first four kilometers and P1.25 for every succeeding kilometer.
Moreover, not a single petition for a fare rate hike was filed by local transport groups before the regional office of the LTFRB in Southern Mindanao amid the rising costs of petroleum products in the country.
For the 18th time this year, and the highest increase so far, oil companies increased pump prices by as much as P2.00 per liter.
In a teleconference in Malacañang Tuesday, LTFRB chair Thompson Lantion said the P1 and P10 fare adjustments for jeepneys and taxis, respectively, would be implemented nationwide.
Taxi Fare
Lantion said that for taxis nationwide, a P10 add-on rate on the accumulated fare for every end of the journey would be implemented. This means that if the meter shows a P100 rate, the passenger would need to add P10 or pay a total of P110 for the service.
"No increase in the flag down rate and succeeding 300 meters. No additional for the waiting time also," he said.
He added that since the fare adjustment has been approved by the Neda Board, it would be implemented immediately or this Friday at the latest.
Lantion said the fare increase stemmed from the recommendations submitted by LTFRB to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board, and it was also based on the standing fare increase petitions of different transportation groups.
The fare adjustment was made on the heels of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines's withdrawal of its P1.50 minimum fare increase petition amid plans to ask for P4 instead. (Carlo P. Mallo/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (July 10, 2008 issue)
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