DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/03 May) – The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board in the region is still awaiting word from its central office on the petition of a transport group submitted nearly two months ago to adjust the minimum fare by P2.
Edgar Violan, administrative officer and spokesperson of LTFRB-XI, said the Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative led by its chair Manuel Duran, filed the petition on March 23.
The regional office had expected to receive word from the central office after Holy Week.
“I don’t know the reason why the decision wasn’t released yet. We are just waiting,”Violan said.
Duran said the petition was filed to alleviate the burden of drivers and operators from the rising prices of oil products.
On March 22, the LTFRB in Manila granted the request by transport groups for a 50-centavo provisional fare hike for public utility jeepneys in the National Capital Region and in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabrazon, Mimaropa and Bicol.
The minimum fare for jeepneys in these regions is now P8.50. The increase would only apply to the first four kilometers, and there would be no increase for the succeeding kilometers.
Violan said the Davao region was not included in the provisional increase since the transport groups failed to file petition on time.
Semddoc belongs to the United Transport Koalition which counts as members around 7,000 drivers and operators all over the country. It is also pushing for a provisional fare rate increase of 50 centavos, pending the decision on their main petition.
“There is no reason for the central office to disapprove the petition considering that the agency already approved the provisional fare increase of P0.50 in other regions,” Violan said.
At present, the minimum fare in the city is still P8, a result of the provisional fare rate hike in February last year. (MindaNews)