Drivers, commuters disagree in public hearing
There were mixed reactions at the public hearing for the two fare hike petitions filed by some drivers' organizations at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 yesterday.
LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said that all the output of the public hearing will be transmitted next week to their head office, which will decide whether or not to grant a fare hike in Central Visayas.
Cuizon said that those who still have something to say about the petitions have until Thursday to submit their position paper.
Romeo Armamento, national vice president of the National Confederation of Transportworkers UnionCentral Visayas, said that they support the petition of the Basak Lapu-Lapu City Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Balacjoda) who sought for an increase of P1.50 in the jeepney's minimum fare.
Armamento said that because of an argument over 50 centavos, a conductor was stabbed to death by a passenger.
"Tungod sa P0.50 naay nagpatay. Imbento ni, ni Satanas. Kataw-an ta ni Satanas ani. So, para mawagtang na ang tension, wagtangon na ni nato ang P0.50 sa pletehan," said Armamento.
He also explained that prices of fuel have increased from P38 per liter in February and to around P46 per liter now, which makes it necessary to grant a fare increase.
Some commuters during the public hearing raised their complaints among jeepney drivers who will not give exact change.
"Dili gyud sila mosukli og sa saktong sukli," a student said.
Another petitioner, the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative (Citrasco), through its chairman and president Ryan Benjamin, is asking the commuters for little understanding as there is a need too to uplift the lives of the drivers and their families by increasing their take home pay.
Citrasco is seeking for a P1 increase in the minimum fare.
"Our priority is public service but we also need to sustain our operation. The drivers are exposed to all the hazards. We have to consider that," Yu said.
Currently, Cebu has the lowest fare rate with a minimum fare of P6.50. In other areas, the minimum fare is P8 for the first four kilometers.
Lawyer Ennoh Chentis Fernandez, president of the Kilusang Pagbabago-Cebu Province, said that they oppose any fare hike as this would mean additional burden on the part of those who are living below the poverty line.
"We are opposed unless they (petitioners) can present proof nga dinalian gyud ni," said Fernandez.
Balacjoda, in their prepared statement, said that the daily net take home pay of the drivers became lower than the prevailing minimum daily wage in the region and this greatly affected the purchasing power of their members.
A jeepney driver said that he works about15 hours a day, yet his net take home pay is only P350 per day, which is below the P366 minimum daily wage.
The statement added that that the metro's traffic problem has worsened all the more and it has impacted their fuel expenses.
"The minimum fare of P6.50 in the region should and must be increased as supervening conditions warrant and justify for it to be increased. Thus, making it P8 for the minimum fare just like the other regions," the statement added.