LTFRB-Davao: No fare hike yet in region

Photo by Mark Perandos
Photo by Mark Perandos

PUBLIC Utility Jeepneys (PUJ) and other public utility vehicle drivers in Davao Region may face a P5,000 fine if they overcharge their passengers without an official advisory from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-Davao).

“Naa na tay nasampulang atong niaging semana (We caught violators last week), naay mga jeep nga natiketan, naa pud mga taxi, laing-laing dominasyon atong nadakpan (we issued citation tickets to drivers of jeepneys, taxi and other transport vehicles that we apprehended),” LTFRB-Davao regional director Nonito Llanos III said Monday, September 19, 2022 in an interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio.

The LTFRB central office announced earlier the approval of the temporary base fee hike for jeepneys, buses, taxis, and even Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS).

Llanos said despite the announcement of a fare hike from the central office on Friday, September 16, 2022, no memorandum circular has been cascaded to the regional offices yet.

“Akong gitan-aw ang opisyal nga kamanduan sa atoang Central office pinaagi sa atoang website, unfortunately, wala pa’y nigawas nga official nga papel, either a board resolution or memorandum circular gikan sa Central Office (We checked the website if there’s any official order but none has been issued yet. We have yet to receive a board resolution or memorandum circular from the central office). Atong hulaton kung unsa gyud ang klaro nga kamandoan gikan sa kaulohan sa LTFRB aron maklaro gyud kung pila gyud ang increase (We need to wait for these documents to know how much the increase will be),” Llanos said.

He said the main reason for the recent fare hike could possibly be due to transport groups in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon that have petitioned for a fare hike. However, Llanos said no transport group in Davao Region has filed a petition requesting for a fare hike.

“Wala ta’y nadawat nga even usa ka petition (We did not receive even a single petition). Wala pud ko nakahibawo nga duna'y petitions nga submitted to the central office from our region nga gi-direct didto sa central office (Also, we have not received information of petitions submitted to the Central Office that did not pass through us in the region), ” Llanos said.

Llanos said the central office might still be studying if the fare hike will be applicable nationwide. He said should the central office decide that the fare hike be implemented nationwide, it could be due to the recent increase in the price of petroleum products.

Llanos added that should the central office decide the fare hike be nationwide, it will also be implemented in the region. But, if Davao Region is excluded from the hike, they will also abide by this.

Llanos said before LTFRB will release a memorandum on a fare hike, the agency would consult with the National Economic Development Authority.

Meanwhile, Llanos said commuters may report PUJs and other PUV drivers in the region who overcharged or implemented the fare hike without LTFRB-Davao’s order. KSD

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