Bus, Jeepney Minimum Fare P12 by Sunday

• denise
• Jul 10,2008 | 220 Readers
• In: Government Agencies, PGT News

Freaky Fare Hike

After the government approved the P1 increase in jeepney and bus fares last Tuesday, rumors had it that is not the end of it. The said increase will take its effect tomorrow, Friday. But many are forseeing another hike by the end of this week. This time with the minimum fare amounting to P12.

It will be up to the National Economic and Development Authority board led by acting chief Augusto Santos if he will approve the fare hike petition. This of course had to be recommended by the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board.

This Friday will start the P1 increase meaning the jeepney fare will now be P8.50 for the first four kilometers, with an additional of 25 centavos for each succeeding kilometer. A 50-centavo provisional fare hike was allowed last May 19, which allowed jeepney operators to charge a minimum fare of P8. Then, for ordinary buses, the new fare is P10 (from P9) for the first five kilometers and 20 centavos for each succeeding kilometer.

Now for air-conditioned buses, LTFRB chair Thompson Lantion said these charge 20 percent more than the fare of ordinary buses, with the new minimum rate now between P11.50 and P12.50.
Provincial buses are not covered by the P1 increase because these were granted a provisional increase last May.

On taxis,there will be no additional charges for the flag down rate, but passengers would have to pay an additional P10 over the meter rate. The rumored P12 fare came from the possibility that public transport groups like the Pagkakaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston), the Philippine Confederation of Drivers and Operators-Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (PCDO-Acto), and the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) might move for another round of fare increase.