The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, reiterated to the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) central office to immediately promulgate the required matrix for public utility vehicles (PUVs) applicable during the prevalence of the health crisis until mass public transportation will normalise.
In a resolution, local legislators stated that the city believes that the LTFRB should not close its eyes on the need to strike a balance between the interest of the riding public, the viability of jeepney operations, and the economic plight of the operators and drivers, especially those honestly complying with the existing LTFRB fare matrix regulations despite the challenges they are currently facing.
The council pointed out that as an indispensable component of a vibrant economy, the PUV sector deserves reasonable fare adjustment which the LTFRB has the sole mandate to promulgate.
The body stipulated that mass public transportation is indispensable in all aspects of economic activities even during the community quarantine period.
According to the councilors, public transportation is one of the most affected sectors during the implementation of the community quarantine because jeepneys are allowed to operate on a very limited capacity of 50 percent as per LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-017 that prescribed the guidelines for public transportation for areas under general community quarantine.
Further, recent national and local government issuances mandated the public transport sector to comply with the prevailing health protocols to contribute in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 adding to the cost of operations of the PUVs.
Subsequently, various transport groups requested for a provisionary fare increase because the existing 50 percent sitting capacity requirement has negatively impacted on the viability of their continued operation and such situation compelled jeepney operators and drivers to impose fares double, triple and even quadruple of the LTFRB allowed fare matrix to the detriment of the riding public.
Earlier, the council passed Ordinance No. 71, series of 2020, that allowed the installation of tip boxes on PUVs in the city supposed to help the jeepney operators and drivers cope with the cost of operation by encouraging commuters to give a tip aside from their regular fare.
However, several jeepney operators and drivers associations plying the different routes in the city have resorted to entering into memorandum of agreements with commuter representatives and barangay officials in fixing adjusted minimum fares in their respective routes while some even disregarded the mandatory grant of the 20 percent discount for senior citizens and students.
The LTFRB eventually called the attention of the jeepney operators and drivers, asserting that what should be collected from commuters is the approved P9 minimum fare for the first 4 kilometers and additional P1.50 for every kilometer travelled.
By Dexter A. See