COMMUTERS have been urged by the head of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB 7) to report to his office instances of inconsistent fares being collected from them by modern public utility vehicle (MPUV) conductors.
LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. said that not following the fare matrix is unlawful and violators will face penalties.
The agency will take action by issuing a show cause order to the operator and driver, telling them to explain why they committed such a violation, according to Montealto, the guest of SunStar’s online news and commentary program, “Beyond the Headlines,” on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
SunStar Cebu recently received complaints from a passenger who had been charged different fares by conductors or passenger assistance officers of two MPUVs owned by different operators, despite traveling the same distance and route.
Glen (not his real name) said that in one MPUV he rode, he was charged P15 for a ride from Colon Street to a mall in the North Reclamation Area. However, on another ride with a different unit but for the same destination, he was asked to pay P16.
Formal complaint
Montealto said the public can help put an end to this practice by filing a formal complaint at their office, and this will allow them to take action against violators.
The official also acknowledged that some commuters are hesitant to report such incidents to their office because it will eat up their time. He said complainants need not go to their office as they can send their complaints through their official email address at complaints@ltfrb.gov.ph or via the regulatory board’s official Facebook Page.
The complaints sent via email or Facebook must contain the complainant’s name and signature, according to Montealto.
The LTFRB 7 head clarified that complainants are not always required to appear in person at their office after filing a complaint, saying this is only necessary if the violators contest the complaint.
However, “90 percent of the time, they (violators) do not contest the complaint,” he said.
Fare matrix
Montealto also encouraged the riding public not to pay the fare if the fare matrix is not displayed inside the MPUV unit.
The fare matrix or tariff is an official document from the LTFRB that guides passengers about the mandated fare in their areas.
According to Montealto, charging a fare without a fare matrix is considered overcharging.
Overcharging carries fines of P5,000 for the first violation, P10,000 for the second, and P15,000 for the third, along with a 30-day vehicle impoundment.
The director said that unlike before, they can now penalize not only the operators but also the drivers.
He said the LTFRB 7 has been deputized by the Land Transportation Office to penalize drivers committing violations.
Digitalization
He admitted that the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program has not yet been fully operationalized, especially since the consolidation of all public utility vehicles is still ongoing.
Last March, the deadline for traditional jeepneys to consolidate or join existing cooperatives or corporations was extended until Dec. 31, 2023.
He also pointed out that no company offering an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) has been licensed for operation in all MPUVs.
The AFCS replaces manual ticketing and payment systems, resulting in faster, more efficient and more convenient transportation transactions for both passengers and transit operators.
Montealto also urged the public to report other illegal practices by MPUVs, including overspeeding and overloading of passengers.
Following the lifting of the Covid-19 public health emergency status, he said MPUVs with seats on both sides, designed for passengers to face each other, are now allowed to accommodate eight standing passengers.
However, Montealto said standing passengers for MPUVs with seats facing the front are still not allowed.