The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has granted a provisional 50-centavo rollback effective Monday for jeepneys plying routes in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon.

Chairman Alberto Suansing signed the four-page order yesterday adjusting the minimum fare from P7.50 to P7 for the first four kilometers.

“In the Philippines, the price of diesel went down to P23 from a high of P49 just half a year ago. This was not only due to the decline of prices in the world market but also to the efforts of the government to alleviate the plight of every driver and operator of jeepneys and buses and the commuting public,” Suansing said.

He note that the previous provisional reduction of 10 centavos for every succeeding kilometer would remain along with the 20-percent fare discount for senior citizens and students upon presentation of their identification cards.

The fare adjustment was proposed by transport groups during their meeting with President Arroyo in Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting at the Palace.

The Cabinet meeting was attended by representatives of the Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators, Philippine Confederation of Drivers and Operators-Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines, Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, Pasang Masda, and partylist 1-United Transport Koalisyon.

But two groups were following the 50-centavo with some reluctance.

“We will abide by the [board] decision. At least, we were able to drive home our point,” said George San Mateo, Piston spokesman, indicating that Utak-1 was in “connivance” with the Palace.

“That meeting was initiated by Piston and Pasang Masda [to] discuss the Oil Deregulation Law and a big-time fare rollback. Those groups joined us on invitation of the Department of Transportation and Com-munications.”

San Mateo said he was surprised when Utak-1’s Vigor Mendoza, Fejodap’s Zeny Maranan and Acto’s Efren de Luna announced the 50-centavo cut when a public hearing was yet to be held.

“LTFRB is the proper venue, and not Malacañang.”

Mendoza said other issues discussed in the Cabinet meeting were police and traffic enforcers extorting about P35 per driver daily, unfranchised jeepneys, absence of a unified traffic citation, and the 5-percent daily interest in the fine over confiscated driver’s licence not redeemed in one week. Joyce Pangco Pañares and Rio N. Araja