Every Juan Dela Cruz’s Ride

Jeepney is the first thing that comes into mind when you talk about commuting in the Philippine setting. While there are other modes of public transportation like buses, taxi cabs, LRT-MRT, pedicabs, and others, the jeepneys mostly comprise the traffic scene.

Personally, I do not use this particular mode of public transportation. I find it too crowded, too open and the drivers are mostly reckless. But most of the Filipinos love it because it is readily available, it is, like I said earlier, biggest in volume among other modes. Apart from the number of units, the coverage of its trips and the corresponding fare is pocket-friendly to students, working class and senior citizens alike. Unlike the LRT or MRT, you need not climb flights of stairs and wait for one coach to take you to your destination. Or unlike the taxi cab, every second, there is a new jeepney that will stop in front of you.

The fare for public transportation is not constant. The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board or LTFRB is responsible for regulating it. They consider everything in deciding how and when to increase or decrease the fare of a particular group. One of the considerations they take is the world market for oil or gas. Different modes also have different groups representing them. And these groups lobby for better benefits for drivers and operators. Another point of consideration is the price of primary goods like meat, vegetables, and fish.

Recently, there was a jeepney fare reduction. And it was attributed to the plummeting of oil price. As LTFRB said, if there is change in the pricing of oil, they will always consider a rollback to decrease the minimum jeepney fare. This is fair for the commuters. But how about the drivers and their operators? This is why, every time the price for main commodities takes a hike, transport groups assemble to voice out their concerns. If they believe their complaints are not being heard, they gather to a transport strike. So you can say that market price and transportation fare has a cause and effect relationship.

It is not safe to presuppose that if the oil price increases, the main commodity prices increase, the public transportation fare increases too or vice versa. The LTFRB still has to hear petitions for price hike or rollback. They would send notice for hearing to representatives from Congress. And just like any hearing, the petitioners need to submit their position papers, and they will have to publish the notice of hearing in the general circulation fifteen days prior its start. Both parties are also required to submit proof of compliance with jurisdictional requirements.

LTFRB reiterates that in order to come up with a sound decision, they need to consider the current market situation, understand the plight of both passengers, and drivers and their operators. They also have to impose strict compliance to the requirements before a hearing commences to ensure that there is fair evaluation. And once they have arrived to a decision, implementation comes immediately. Those who need to be benefited, are benefited right away.