THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has completed preparations implementing the proposal of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) extending public fare discounts to passengers of public utility vehicles (PUVs).
LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said the budget for the service contracting program is complete and merely awaiting for the money to be remitted to the agency.
Its implementation takes guidance from the DOTr.
According to Guadiz, the agency will take the cue from Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista who has committed to spend the P1.2 billion allotted for the discount program to benefit as many of the transport services on a nationwide scale.
Under the proposal, traditional jeepney fares will be returned to its pre-pandemic level of P9 instead P12 at present.
“I believe the budget could last only six months so that as early as now I am requesting the DOTr to come up with additional funding para to make the discounts last at least a year,” Guadiz said.
