AS THE P8.50 jeepney fare rate in Iloilo City and Province took effect Aug 30, 2018, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-6 advised passengers to report public utility vehicles that lack fare matrices but charge the higher fare.

The matrix should be plastered inside the jeepney, specifically at the back of the driver’s seat, where passengers can easily see it.

LTFRB-6 Regional Director Richard Osmeña said that of the 11,000 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in Iloilo and Bacolod City, only 10 percent have purchased the fare matrix.

“They cannot implement the new fare adjustment if they do not have the matrix,” he said.

Osmeña appealed to the public to report to LTFRB any violation because they cannot monitor all vehicles in the city and province.

Violators will be fined P5,000.

Drivers had until Thursday to purchase the matrix for P610 at the LTFRB-6 office in Jaro, Iloilo City.

On July 30, 2018, the LTFRB approved the petition to raise the minimum jeepney fare to P8.50 for the first four kilometers for regular passengers. The new fare is P2 higher than the original P6.50.

But under the new rate, students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are entitled to a 20 percent discount.

Last June 2018, the LTFRB originally approved a P9 minimum fare for jeepneys, or a spike of P2.50.

The transport groups asked for a P10-fare in their original petition.

In an earlier interview, Osmeña said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) only recommended a P2 increase.

Inflation rate is among the factors considered by NEDA.