THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has summoned a bus operator and its driver for allegedly failing to provide mandated fare discounts under the government’s service contracting program.
In a statement issued Thursday, the LTFRB said the show cause order (SCO) was served on Cemtrans Services Inc. after a complaint surfaced online accusing one of its conductors of not granting required fare reductions and failing to return change to passengers.
Under program rules, passenger buses are required to extend a 20-percent discount to regular commuters and up to 40 percent to students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.
The LTFRB said the conductor involved in the reported incident did not issue tickets, failed to apply the prescribed discount, and did not give the correct change for a trip from Alabang to Ayala.
“This is not how the program works and there is no excuse for failure to provide the necessary discount to all passengers,” LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said.
Mendoza warned that the agency would take action against operators and personnel who disregard program guidelines.
The SCO directs the bus operator to submit a written explanation on why its franchise should not be suspended or revoked for noncompliance with service contracting rules. The driver and conductor were also ordered to appear at a hearing scheduled on May 11.
Failure to attend the hearing or submit a response will be treated as a waiver, which could result in the imposition of a 5,000 peso penalty, the LTFRB said. FRANCO JOSE BAROÑA
