THE P50 minimum fare being floated by a commuter group as a result of the modernization program is “statistically impossible” and will never happen.

This was stressed by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III as he allayed fears over such as possibility following the implementation of the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUMVP).

PARA-Advocates for Inclusive Transport convenor Edrich Samonte has warned of P50 minimum fare for modern jeepneys because of the high cost the modernization program.

“Meron tayong malaking cost ng modernization. Hindi lang yung unit, kasama rito yung garahe, fess sa pag gagawa ng coop, pagha-hire ng mekaniko at marami pang iba,” he pointed out.

However, Guadiz said Samonte’s projection is not only impossible but also unreasonable.

He assured the riding public that imposing such an exorbitant fare will never happen.

“Napakalayo ng P15 sa P50. Ang ganyang nilulutang ng commuter group ay walang katotohanan,” Guadiz added.

Currently, the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys is P13 and P15 for the modern units.

According to the LTFRB chair, in coming up with fare hike projections, a study must be conducted and various factors must be assessed.

It must be backed by data so as not to bring alarm to the public especially the commuters.

“Where are they getting their data? Pinag-aralan ba nila iyan? You just can’t blurt out things like that,” Guadiz said.

Six years ago when the modernization program was introduced in 2017, the LTFRB head said that the minimum fare for traditional jeepneys was P9 while the modern ones cost P11.

“Ang P2 difference and never pong nagbago,. . .Noon pa man ay binabalanse na ng LTFRB ang pangangailangan ng mga tsuper at komyuter kapag tumataas ang presyo ng petrolyo. Kaya naman ho, walang lohika ang sinasabi nilang P50 na pamasahe sa loob ng limang taon. Statistically impossible ho talaga iyon,” he stressed.

Guadiz gave assurances that the LTFRB remains committed to providing better service to the people and stressed that no unreasonable fare hikes will be implemented that would only add burden to the commuters.