THERE will be no fare hike or fare reduction for public transportation despite the increase of seating capacity to full seating capacity in Cebu Province beginning March.
Retired Colonel Eduardo Montealto Jr., director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Central Visayas (LTFRB 7), told SunStar Cebu that the fare for jeepneys, buses and other public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Cebu Province and the rest of Central Visayas will not change.
The fare for traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJs) remains at P9 for the first four kilometers and P1.50 for the succeeding kilometer. For modern PUJ with air conditioning units, the fare remains at P11 for the first four kilometers and P1.80 for the succeeding kilometer, while operators of modern PUJs without air conditioning units will charge P11 pesos for the first four kilometers and P1.50 for the succeeding kilometer.
“Fares will not change. No decrease nor increase of fares,” he said days after the announcement of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to resume the operation of PUVs at full seating capacity starting Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
Just before the pandemic began, the TPUJs were charging a minimum fare of only P7.50. When they were allowed to operate again during the pandemic, TPUJs charged around P9 to P10 as minimum fare while modernized jeepneys charged P11.
Montealto said other regions, including Central Visayas, have already standardized the fares and based it on fares in the National Capital Region during the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Some local chief executives have requested for fare reduction while others asked for a fare hike but Montealto said the central office is currently conducting a procedural study to determine whether a fare hike or reduction is necessary.
He said some transport groups also requested for a fare hike but they reportedly changed their position and decided to collect the current fare.
“We in LTFRB 7 appeal to both commuters and operators/drivers to understand the situation. This is a challenge to all of us by which the agency has to weigh and study the best remedy,” he said, adding that the subsidy for the drivers and operators is also being prepared.
Meanwhile, he reminded the drivers and conductors that senior citizens, students and persons with disability are still entitled to a 20 percent discount.