LTFRB eyes bringing back ₱9 fare as it prepares to implement discounts

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 15) — Commuters may experience pre-pandemic fare rates in public utility vehicles (PUVs) again, as transport regulators prepare to implement discounts.

The proposed discounts would reduce the minimum fare from the current ₱12 to the pre-pandemic rate of ₱9 in traditional jeepneys, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Wednesday.

However, the LTFRB added that specifics of the proposal have yet to be finalized.

LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the agency is still waiting for the funds set in the Service Contracting Program (SCP) to be downloaded to them.

"We also have to take the cue from the Office of the (Transportation) Secretary, how they intend to do it," Guadiz said. "I think ang gagawin lang nila is discount lang ang ibibigay sa mga tao para 'yung pera na ₱1.2 billion mapagkasya sa maraming mga transport services on a nationwide scale."

[Translation: I think the Transportation Department will only offer discounts to commuters so that the ₱1.2-billion budget would cover all transport services on a nationwide scale.]

Guadiz also called on the Department of Transportation to come up with additional funding so that the fare discounts would last until the end of the year. He said the current SCP budget would only cover six months.

The LTFRB previously said it would offer fare discounts instead of bringing back the Libreng Sakay program at the EDSA busway.