THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Davao Region (LTFRB-Davao) said public utility vehicle (PUV) operators can pay the first P50 fee to claim the fare matrix.
The P50 fee stands as a downpayment to allow PUV operators to claim the fare matrix as early as possible, while the remaining fee of P520 can be paid on or before September 2023.
“This means that it will be easier for the operators to use the new fare matrix and collect new fare amounts. This payment option will give them relief amidst the continuing rise of fuel prices,” regional director Nonito Llanos III said.
LTFRB-Davao said the grace period is implemented starting October 27.
At the same time, the LTFRB-Davao said they are continuously reminding PUVs to claim the new fare matrix so they can properly ask passengers for the increased fare price implemented since October 3.
The fare matrix must be displayed inside the units of the PUVs.
“Our enforcement team is monitoring jeepneys to comply with fare matrix issuance. We are also addressing overcharging concerns from commuters and conducting mediation and hearings,” Llanos said.
Meanwhile, around 9,000 PUVs as of November 22 have claimed their fare matrix. According to the data provided by LTFRB-Davao, the total target is 13,251 PUV units.
So far, 9,308 have applied for the fare matrix and were released by the LTFRB-Davao.
Of this, 4,809 are traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ), 3,840 are taxi units, 644 are provincial public utility buses (PUB), nine are city PUB, and six are modern public utility jeepneys (MPUJ).
A total of 2,407 TPUJ have not yet requested the release of the new fare matrix, as well as 1,339 taxi units, and 203 provincial PUB.
Tessa Piansay of the LTFBR-Davao said operators who will not request for the fare matrix within the given period will be required to process it when they get their renewal of franchise and/or vehicle registrations.
“When they request for confirmation or renew franchise, makita na wala pa sila kakuha og fare matrix so ma-require sila (we will know that they have not claimed the new fare matrix yet so they will be required to do so),” Piansay told SunStar Davao in a message.
As of October 3, the adjusted base fare is P12 for traditional public utility jeepneys, P13 for modern public utility jeepneys, and P45 flag-down rate for taxi services.
The new base fare for regular city public utility buses (PUB) is P13, P15 for air-conditioned city PUB, and P11 for regular provincial PUB. ICM