Amid calls from various groups for a fare rollback due to oil price cut, Daang Matuwid Senatorial candidate Jericho Petilla is happy to hear reports that the transport sector has taken the initiative to reduce the base fare for jeepney.

Transport groups led by Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association (Pasang Masda), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) recently filed a petition to lower their fares following the drop in fuel prices. Starting Friday, the minimum jeepney fare was reduced from P7.50 to P7.00 according to the petition.

While Petilla lauds the initiative of the above transport groups, he noted that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) still needs to make the final decision on whether to cut down fares and by how much.

Petilla added that the unusual situation we have is that oil prices in this country are deregulated, whereas transport fares are regulated. Understandably, the LTFRB could not automatically direct the roll back of fares for public utility jeepney and other transport services despite a drop in oil prices.

The former secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) proposes that instead of conducting hearings every time there is a petition for rollback of fares, a formula should instead be used wherein the LTFRB will just use an average of the oil price, say every month or quarter, and adjust the fares accordingly.

This formula may be arrived at after LTFRB conducts public consultations and dialogues with various stakeholders.

Petilla added he is hopeful these dialogues will help LTFRB come up not only with an appropriate formula for fares, but it may also come up with solutions to other equally important concerns of the riding public like the reported abuses by taxi and bus drivers.