Fare hike transport groups ask public for "compassion"

CEBU, Philippines - Transport groups are appealing to the riding public for "compassion and understanding" in yesterday's public hearing on the petition to increase jeepney fare, even as private individuals and a consumer group expressed their objections in the same gathering.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, the petitioner and chairman of Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative, said prices of spare parts, tires and lubricants among others went up for the past few months which makes it hard for operators to sustain their operations.

"Kami nangayo mi ug pagsabot sa publiko sa among petition kay grabe na gyud ang pagsaka sa mga spare parts," Yu said. (We appeal to the public for understanding.)

Supporting their petition is the Alliance of Transport Organization Member Intra (ATOMIC) through its president Rudy Laconza who stated that drivers are losing income with the current fare.

"Drivers are the most penalized sector with exorbitant fines. They are overworked physically and mentally without even a health insurance to take care of them," Laconza said.

Private individuals opposed the fare hike amidst the worsening condition of jeepney units, many of which are dilapidated. They also raised their concern against arrogant jeepney drivers who refuse to give discount to senior citizens and students.

Last March 15, CITRASCO filed for a P1.50-increase in jeepney's minimum fare. But on March 21, the LTFRB board members granted a .50-centavo provisional increase in jeepney's minimum fare, making it P8.

Yu clarified that since what they were asking in their petition is an increase of P1.50 from P7.50 to P9 and with the granting of the .50 cent provisional hike, an increase of P1 is what they are hoping.

"P9.00 ra man gyud ang among gipangayo. Klaro sa petition namo nga from P7.50 to P9. Uny nihatag na man sila ug .50 centavo nga provisional increase, mahug ug piso na lang ang kuwang." Yu said. (We are really just pushing for P9 as minimum fare.)

The Consumers Rights for Economic Welfare through its president Vicente Sapio said that an increase in fare would cause an unfavorable chain reaction thereby "pushing further the underprivileged and marginalized to the abyss."

Sapio said that the daily income of the workers are barely enough for the day and the increase in fare would affect the agricultural and aquatic products, labor sector will demand for wage increase, cases of school dropouts will increase and the peace and tranquility of the business community will be disturbed.

Ahmed Cuizon, regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said that the minutes of the public hearing will be forwarded to their head office which will decide on the fate of the said petition.

"We hope and pray that the LTFRB will give our petition a due course and unta dili sila magdugay ug decide," Yu added. (We hope they would make a decision fast.) — (FREEMAN)