BALANGA CITY — Drivers of passenger jeepneys and minibuses in Bataan have not yet implemented the increase in fare as of Monday in the absence of the fare matrix to be issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Drivers and dispatchers said that what they collected from passengers was the same old fare and not yet the new fare as approved by LTFRB.
Jeepney driver Ferdy Pascual said that he still charged P26 per passenger one way from Balanga City to Orani town.
“Hindi pa kami nagtataas dahil wala pang taripa na bago at hinihintay pa namin ito at hindi ko alam kung magkano ang itataas pero kung ano ang nasa taripa ay iyon ang aming susundin. Malaking bagay ang pagtaas ng pamasahe sa amin,” Pascual said.
Arnold Vitangcol, president of jeepney driver plying Balanga City–Lamao (Limay) route, said they have been charging a fare of P50 for every passenger since the pandemic that they have not yet changed it in the absence of a fare matrix.
“Ngayon ay nakakaluwag-luwag na kami ng kahit kaunti dahil bumabalik na sa normal ang pasada. Malaki ang maitutulong sa amin ng pagtaas ng pamasahe,” said Vitangcol.
Minibus dispatcher Jun Gumuru said they still collect the same fare of P75 for each individual from Balanga City to Mariveles town. “Hindi pa kami nagtataas dahil walang order ang aming presidente para kami ay magtaas. Hindi ko alam kung magkano ang itataas ng pamasahe dahil steady lang kami ngayon.”
Ricky Basallo, minibus dispatcher of the Balanga City–Olongapo City route, said they still maintained the P95 fare for ordinary buses and P100 for airconditioned ones.
“Ang taripa namin ay dati pa rin at wala pa yong bago kaya hindi pa kami nagtataas at ang dati pa rin ang aming pamasahe. Kung ibibigay na ang taripa sa amin ay susunod na kami dito ngunit hindi ko pa alam kung magkano ang itataas,” Basallo said.
Some passengers said the fare hike will be an additional burden but they cannot do anything except to follow.
“Kung magtataas ng pamasahe para sa akin ay hindi okay pero walang magagawa dahil talagang ganoon kaya tatanggapin ko na lang,” jeepney passenger Evelyn Cruz said. From Balanga City to Mabatang, her village in Abucay town, she presently pays P18.
Junieben dela Fuente, a student taking passenger jeepneys from his residence in Samal to Balanga City, pays P20 one way. “Kung tataas ang pamasahe ay makakaapekto ito sa akin dahil lalaki ang gastos ko.”
Drivers at the jeepney terminal in Barangay Capitangan, Abucay said their transport association leaders were not available and were in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga working for the release of fair matrix from LTRB.
