FILE

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has summoned a bus operator and its personnel after passengers allegedly failed to receive mandatory fare discounts under the government’s service contracting program.

The complaint involved a bus operated by Cemtrans Services, Inc., where a conductor reportedly failed to grant the required discount to passengers and did not return the proper change during a trip from Alabang to Ayala.

Under the program’s rules, public utility buses are required to provide a 20% discount to regular passengers and up to 40% discount for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

The issue reached the LTFRB after a commuter shared the incident online, prompting the agency to issue a show cause order against the operator.

According to the complaint, the conductor also failed to issue a ticket during the trip.

LTFRB Chairperson Vigor Mendoza II said the incident violated the rules of the service contracting program and warned that operators who ignore the policy will face penalties.

“This is not how the program works and there is no excuse for failure to provide the necessary discount to all passengers,” said Chairman Vigor.

“We will deal with this and assure all our kababayan, especially those who are availing public utility vehicles under service contracting that the LTFRB and the DOTr will fight for your right by running after those who would dare ignore the provisions of this program,” he added.

The agency said the operator must explain in writing why its franchise should not be suspended or canceled over the alleged violations.

The driver and conductor involved were also ordered to attend a hearing on May 11.

The LTFRB warned that failure to appear or submit an explanation could result in a ₱5,000 penalty.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez and the LTFRB said they will continue monitoring compliance with the program as part of efforts to protect commuters and improve accountability in public transportation.