BAGUIO City Mayor Benjie Magalong will hold a dialog with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) following the apprehension of a jeepney driver charging P20 fare rate amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Earlier this week, jeepneys plying Irisan were apprehended by LTO for overcharging passengers causing a halt in operations for jeeps to the inconvenience of residents.

Magalong said the double fare rate was approved by villages during a dialog with the community at the onset of the ECQ, explaining villages were mandated to coordinate with jeepneys as special ferry of residents following social distancing rules.

“We have to innovate, otherwise paano tatakbo ang isang jeep na hindi kayang mag-recuperate ng gastos. Ang alam ko, may agreement ang barangay at special jeepney to collect double the normal fare rate,” Magalong said.

Magalong said there are only 250 jeeps allowed to ply the different routes of the city as the ECQ decreased mass transportation which affected close to 5,000 PUJ’s doing business daily.

The 3,300 taxi cabs in the city have likewise been reduced to 80 units allowed to operate as barangay services for residents.

The mayor said guidelines for the transportation sector will be made for its eventual return after the ECQ is modified.