TRANSPORT groups in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have implemented a jeepney fare rollback of 50 centavos – from P7.50 to P7 for regular passengers – following the series of reductions in the prices of fuels.
For students, disabled persons and senior citizens, the discounted fare of P6.40 has been reduced to P6.
Elizabeth Katalbas, president of the Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association (Febacda), said they have implemented the fare rollback early this week after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Western Visayas Office, headed by Director Romulo Bernardez, approved their position papers for the fare rollback Friday.
She said that a fare matrix is no longer needed because having it would entail additional expense for the operators because they would still need to buy it from the LTFRB.
Katalbas said they will ask Bernardez to allow them to voluntarily paste on their jeepneys the notice on the new fare rates.
Diego Malacad of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) also confirmed the fare rate rollback.
Katalbas said the rollback is only 50 centavos because the rates in Western Visayas are lower compared to Metro Manila and other provinces because they did not implement an increase when other regions implemented it before.
In fact, even before the rollback, jeepney drivers in the city and the province have allowed passengers to pay only P7 as regular fare, and P6 as discounted rate.
Last December, the LTFRB ordered to bring back the minimum fare of jeepneys from P8.50 to P7.50 in the National Capital Region.
Jessie Ortega, secretary-general of Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators-Negros (SSTONE), had earlier said the reduction should only be temporary because the rollback in the price of fuels may also be temporary only.