Transport group seeks fare re-computation

CEBU, Philippines - Still disappointed over the withdrawal of the fare hike petition, the National Confederation of Transport workers Union-Cebu will seek a “fare re-computation” for jeepneys before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7.

Romeo Armamento, NCTU-Cebu national vice president, said that routes are getting longer and yet jeepney fares remain the same.

“Naay mga ruta nga nagkataas unya mao ra gihapon ang pletehan. Panahon na gyud nga ipa re-compute ni namo sa LTFRB,” said Armamento.

Armamento, who is also an official of the Mandaue United Drivers Association, cited that routes of Mandaue (Ibabao) to Cebu City and Mandaue (Ouano) to Cebu City are longer since, instead of going straight to Ibabao or Ouano from Cebu City, drivers are made to pass through a mall, to the reclamation area, to the Mandaue Public Market, to the City Hall before heading to their destination.

“Kaning rutaha pwerte na gyud ning taasa. Grabe ang tuyok-tuyok unya mao ra gihapon ang plete. Di sad pwede makapasaka sa pletehan ang mga drivers kay hadlok mareklamuhan ug overcharging,” Armamento said.

He added that the best solution is for LTFRB-7 to re-compute the fares in these routes and should issue a fare matrix to avoid arguments among drivers and passengers.

Aside from Mandaue routes, Armamento said that other routes that are longer are in Lapu-Lapu City, Tamiya, So-ong Cordova, among others.

It can be recalled that several jeepney drivers and their organizations were dismayed when CITRASCO, the fare hike petitioner, officially withdrew its petition to increase the jeepney fare by P2.50 during the public hearing last July 22.

“Gikinahanglan na man gyud nga pasaka-an ang pletehan pero kay gi-withdraw man ang maong petisyon, mao kami mo petition na lang sad mi sa LTFRB og fare re-computation,” Armamento further said. —/ATO (FREEMAN)