Cebu City, Philippines—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas has committed to endorsing any petitions for fare increases from regional transport cooperatives to its central office. Eduardo Montealto Jr., the regional director of LTFRB-7, made this announcement on Tuesday, emphasizing the process for handling requests for fare adjustments.
According to Philippines News Agency, speaking to the Philippine News Agency, the LTFRB-7 will facilitate the review of a fare increase petition by forwarding it to the central office for further consideration. He clarified that until an increase is approved, operators of both traditional and modern public utility jeepney (PUJ) units must adhere to the current fare structure.
The Cebu Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative, along with other cooperatives, has proposed a PHP5 increase to the existing minimum fare, which would raise it from PHP15 to PHP20. This request contrasts with higher fare projections associated with the full implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which some have inaccurately estimated could lead to a base fare of PHP40.
Montealto urged the public to await official fare hike advisories directly from the LTFRB to avoid confusion caused by misinformation. He assured that LTFRB-7 is attentive to the transport sector's concerns and is prepared to assist cooperatives with any issues they face. In the meantime, he warned that drivers should continue to collect the established minimum fare to avoid penalties, including potential show-cause orders from the LTFRB-7.