The petition for a 50-centavo provisional jeepney fare increase for the first five kilometers, filed by the Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators-Negros, has not yet been granted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board national office.

LTFRB Region 6 Director Romulo Bernardes told the DAILY STAR yesterday that, with the petition still pending, drivers in Negros Occidental should not collect fare of more than P7.50 for regular passengers and P6.50 for students and persons with disability, otherwise they will be meted penalties for overcharging.

He also said the national board is still deliberating on the petition, and it is not known yet when its decision will be announced.

Bernardes said he believes the national board is still in a quandary on the petition, considering that the prices of fuel products have already decreased.

Despite the rollback in fuel prices, SSTONe secretary-general Jesse Ortega said they will still push through with their petition because the price rollback is still meager, being only P1 for every liter of diesel and 45 centavos to P1 for gasoline and kerosene.

Ortega added there is still a huge difference in the prices of fuel products in Negros Occidental, compared to that in other areas, like Cebu.

SSTONe filed the petition for a fare hike in August last year but it was delayed due to non-compliance with several requirements.

LTFRB records show that the last fare increase was granted on July 15, 2008, and it has not been adjusted upward to match the rising cost of petroleum products.

Bernardes told passengers who were asked to pay more than the allowable fare that they may file complaints before the LTFRB.*APN

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