LTFRB orders provisional rollback of jeepney fares in NCR, Regions 3 and 4
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Monday the lowering of minimum fares for jeepneys in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon (Region III), and Calabarzon and Mimaropa (Region IV).
LTFRB was directed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on November 26 to implement a motu proprio rollback on jeepney fare starting this week.
Board Resolution No. 91 said the rollback of base fare from ₱10 to ₱9 was due to the "world price of diesel" going down, which resulted in the decrease of pump prices locally.
"On 30 October 2018, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary (Arthur) P. Tugade has directed the LTFRB to immediately address the issue of the PUJ (public utility jeepney) fare rate and balance it with the repeated rollback of diesel pump prices in areas covered by the recent fare increase, such as Regions 3, 4, and NCR," the resolution said.
LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said, "After the prices of fuel have peaked some time in October, bumaba nang bumaba na ang presyo ng krudo. And for which reason, Secretary Tugade directed LTFRB to rollback the fare rate, and that is basically what we're doing."
The fare cut comes less than a month after a jeepney fare hike was implemented in parts of the country. In November, jeepney passengers in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Tagalog were asked to pay a minimum fare of P10.
The LTFRB said passengers would be charged ₱9 for the first four kilometers in the affected areas.
The Board will come up with a formula to set the adjustments, and it will be deliberated and proposed by a technical working group to be convened by the LTFRB.
The agency said the rollback would take effect immediate upon the resolution's publication in a newspaper of general and/or local circulation.
Dubai crude oil has gone down by 14 percent to an average of $68 per barrel in November from $79 per barrel in October.
Delgra clarified the hearing on the petition to reduce the jeepney fare to ₱8 will continue.
