More jeepney groups agree to P1 fare cut

Don’t hold your breath for cleaner air, as the DENR has been a laggard in adopting cleaner fuel standards. A 10-fold cut in sulfur emissions has been pushed back to 2016. INQUIRER file photo

Two transport groups on Thursday filed a petition for a voluntary P1 rollback in the minimum fare for air-conditioned jeepneys plying Makati City.

The Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) and Makati Pasay Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association Inc. (Mapajoda Inc.) cited the decrease in oil prices, especially diesel, in their consolidated petition filed in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

“It is reasonable to provisionally reduce the minimum fare for the first four kilometers from P12 to P11. However, for the succeeding kilometer, the same shall remain (P1.50),” the petition said.

“This consolidated petition is being made for the welfare of all the stakeholders in the transport industry, especially the riding public,” according to the petition filed by LTOP national president Orlando Marquez and Mapajoda president Ricky Derder.

On Wednesday, a group of bus companies also volunteered to reduce the minimum fare by P1.

Under the proposal of Samahang Transport Operators ng Pilipinas Inc. (STOP), the minimum fare will go down from P12 to P11 for air-conditioned buses and from P10 to P9 for regular buses, while the rate for succeeding kilometers shall remain the same.

In January, four jeepney groups also filed a petition to provisionally reduce the minimum fare from P7.50 to P7. The LTFRB implemented the fare cut on Jan. 22. –Erika Sauler