New fare rate for aircon vans to take effect Aug. 15

By Erly C. Garcia

A new fare rate for passenger aircon vans and buses in the region will already take effect on August 15, 2005.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) regional director Porfirio Clavel said the new fare rate for the aircon vans is P6 for the first 5 kilometers and P1.32 for every succeeding kilometer thereafter.

For the buses the new fare rate is P8.50 for the first 5 kilometers and P1.30 for every succeeding kilometer thereafter.

Clavel noted that this is the first time in three years that aircon vans would have a fare increase.

He said the approval of the new fare rate came after comprehensive deliberations with the van operators.

Clavel, however, stressed that the fare hike will apply only to “legitimate” aircon vans.

The regional director admitted that he has received a lot of complaints about non-aircon vans charging fees prescribed by the LTFRB for aircon vans.

Clavel warned that they would conduct actual physical inspection on passenger vans even as he called on the commuters to report to any of the LTFRB offices the violators.

Clavel said they would be issuing new matrices soon in order to avoid confusion among the riding public.

Clavel stressed that in approving the new fare rate for aircon vans and buses they have tried “to balance everything.”

He said, the continued increase in the prices of gasoline is one major factor which they have taken into consideration.