PUBs clamoring for coding

Several bus operators have appealed to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to re-impose the number coding scheme on public utility buses after they observed a 20 percent drop in earnings.

Director Angelito Vergel de Dios, MMDA-Traffic Operations Center (TOC), said yesterday that some bus operators have asked him to revive the traffic scheme. "Nagrereklamo ang mga bus operators dahil bumaba daw ang kita nila."

He said that one of the bus owners, Gavin Peñalosa of MGP Trans, sent him a text message at around 7:28 p.m. last Tuesday and made the request.

"A survey conducted by the Air Quality Division said even during the peak hours, di talaga napupuno ang buses, only 50 percent of the buses are occupied," he said.

Peñalosa, who is also the vice president and spokesman of the North East Metro Bus Operators Group (NEMBOG), claimed that three days since the MMDA lifted the scheme, they have lost 20 percent of their income.

Before the March 10 lifting of the number coding, his company earns an average of P9,000, consumes 200 liters of diesel and completes five trips. But when all buses were allowed to ply the major thoroughfares at the same time, their income went down to P7,000, consumed the same quantity of gas and had difficulty completing five trips.

His sentiment was shared by bus company Pascual Bus Lines, one of 15 company-members of NEMBOG.

However, Peñalosa stressed that campaigning for the return of the coding scheme is secondary in importance to their petition for a fare hike.

"Ang target muna naming ay ang fare increase. After the fare hike, we will evaluate the coding scheme. Director Vergel de Dios said he would arrange a meeting for us with Chairman Bayani Fernando," he added.

Rene Valamiento, of the Gloren and ROV bus companies, said he has a total of 57 units. With the coding, they collected between P2,000 to P2,500 net profit daily, but in the last few days they noticed their income only reached P900 to P1,200.

"Our organization, the Babe Transport Association which is made up of seven operators, has already drafted a petition letter to be given to President Arroyo requesting her to restore the color coding scheme," he said.

Valamiento added they would furnish the MMDA, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) a copy of the letter.

Peñalosa, who has 20 buses plying EDSA, said the negative effects was quickly felt by small bus operators like him.

"From the start, I never supported the call to lift coding dahil dadami ang buses, meaning more competition. Ganoon pa rin naman ang dami ng pasahero."