New minimum fare triggers arguments

CEBU, Philippines - Heated arguments between passengers and drivers marked the first day of the implementation of the new minimum fare for public utility jeepneys in Central Visayas.

Romeo Armamento, vice president of the National Confederation of Transportworkers' Union, said that the arguments were reported in routes that the drivers are undercharging.

Armamento cited the route from MEPZ I in Lapu-Lapu City to JCentre Mall in Mandaue City where drivers are only collecting P9 fare instead of P10 because the distance of the route is around 8 kilometers.

According to Armamento, the passengers are insisting that the fare they used to pay should be lowered.

"Ang lalis ani kay nag-undercharged ang among ruta, so, ang nahitabo ang mga drivers di mo paubos sa ilang plete kay ubos na daan. Pero ang mga pasahero, mo insister man sad nga dapat paubsan ang plete kay niubos na man ang minimum fare," Armamento said.He said the drivers were forced to have an emergency meeting to solve the problem. It was agreed by the drivers to put a sign inside their jeepneys indicating the distance of the route and how much passengers are supposed to pay.

Armamento said the distance of the route is even longer because of the rerouting scheme implemented by the local government unit.

"So, karon nga gipatuman ang ubos nga pletehan, gubot kaayo kay kasagaran taas na ang ruta unya ang nahitabo nag undercharged ang mga drivers. Amo-a ning klaruhon sa LTFRB," Armamento said.

Armamento said the group will be asking the LGUs to measure the distance of the routes and submit it to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board with the corresponding fare.

"Kay ang nahitabo gud karon, sigi lang og rerouting ang mga LGUs without considering the distansiya nga mausab. Ang ending, mag buot-buot na lang ang mga drivers pila ang plete," Armamento added.

Armamento cited that the O1K route (Urgellio to North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City) now passes Cebu Doctors' University Hospital to Parkmall.

"Kaning 01K sa North Bus (terminal) ra gyud unta ni siya kutob but karon kay moabot sila sa Parkmall unya wa man gyud ni klaro pila ang sukod ani. Ang nahitabo, ang drivers na ang nagbuot pila ang plete," said Armamento.

Several passengers said that they started paying P7 whether the conductors or drivers like it or not.

"Sa panahon nga P7.50 ang plete sa minimum fare, P8 gyud ilang kuhaon. Karon nga P7 aw di na gyud sila maka angal. Dugay nga panahon ni sila nagpahimulos," said Arnel Guisacede, a factory worker.

So far, LTFRB-7 director Rey Elnar said he has not received any formal complaints about jeepney drivers not implementing the new fare. —(FREEMAN)