LTFRB summons bus firm personnel for not giving 20-percent fare discount
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has summoned the operator, driver and conductor of a public utility bus registered under the government’s service contracting program for failing to give a fare discount to a passenger.
The LTFRB said in a statement on Thursday that it issued a show cause order based on a complaint posted on social media. The passenger claimed the conductor of a bus plying the Ayala-Alabang route did not give the mandated 20-percent fare discount, a bus ticket and the change.
The transport board said that under the rules of the service contracting program that took effect on April 15, all passengers are entitled to a 20-percent fare discount, on top of the current discounts for students, senior citizens and persons with disability.
LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza assured the public that the agency would run after those who will violate the provisions of the program.
“This is not how the program works and there is no excuse for failure to provide the necessary discount to all passengers,” he said.
Explanation demanded
According to the LTFRB, the bus operator has been ordered to explain in writing why the company’s franchise should not be suspended or canceled for failing to follow the rules and regulations of the service contracting program. The driver and conductor have also been summoned to attend a hearing on May 11.
According to the show cause order, failure to appear before the LTFRB hearing officer and file an answer shall be considered as a waiver of their right to be heard. They will also be fined P5,000.
Under the service contracting program that started on April 15, the government will pay public utility drivers a fixed amount per kilometer under a subsidy program to ease the effects of runaway fuel prices.
Under the program, traditional jeepneys will be paid P30 per kilometer. For modern jeepneys and UV Express units it will be P40 per km and for buses, P100 per km.
