LTFRB to implement fare discounts for PUV passengers soon

Commuters may soon experience a slight relief on public transport fares as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to implement the discount on public utility vehicles (PUV).

In a statement, LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III said that the Board is currently waiting for the budget for the Service Contracting Program to be downloaded to them.

According to him, the implementation of the discount will still depend on the Department of Transportatio's  (DOTr)  guidance. “We also have to take the cue from the Office of the Secretary, how they intend to do it. I think ang gagawin lang nila is discount lang ang ibibigay sa mga tao para ‘yung pera na P1.2 billion mapagkasya sa maraming mga transport services on a nationwide scale (I think what they would provide the people is a discount so that the P1.2 billion amount can be dished out to numerous transport services on a nationwide scale),” Guadiz explained.

Based on the proposal, fares in traditional jeepneys will be returned to pre-pandemic levels, or at P9 from the current P12.

Further, Guadiz immediately requested for more budget to be allocated to the program so that many commuters may benefit from it. “I believe the budget may last only for about six months, half a year. So as early as now, I am requesting the DOTr to come up with additional funding para mapagkasya po namin hanggang sa katapusan ng taon ‘yung pera (so as early as now, I am requesting the DOTr to come up with additional funding so that we can fit the money until the end of the year,” Guadiz stated.

Photos from Department of Transportation Facebook page, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

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