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Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Ifugaos oppose ‘unjust’ fare hike
LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The commuting public here unanimously opposed the "exorbitant fare increase" proposed by the Ifugao Bus and Jeepney Operators (Ibjoda) submitted to the Land and Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Baguio.
In a counter-petition, the commuters averred that the proposed fare increase of the Ibjoda is unreasonable, too high and unjust. They noted that if this fare rate would be implemented, the daily commuters would be gravely affected.
The proposed fare increase include Lagawe to Bolog - from P8 to P10; Lagawe to Nayon - P10 to P15; Lagawe to Lamut - P18 to P25; Lagawe to Kiangan, P7 to P10; Lagawe to Banaue, P17 to P20; and Lagawe to Solano - P29 to P37.
The Ibjoda increased its fare rates last December to the consternation of many commuters, who even raised question as to the legality of the increase since the Ibjoda can not present a copy of the LTFRB sanction.
The only document they can present was the Cordillera fare matrix and a new fare schedule signed by its president, Manuel Kalahi Jr. The commuters argued the fare matrix is only applicable to Benguet and Mountain Province routes.
Last January, the LTFRB-Cordillera personnel came to the province to investigate the matter and immediately ordered Ibjoda to stop implementing the illegal increase.
A public consultation was then conducted on February 4 between the transport group and the commuters to come up with a compromise on reasonable fare increase. This, however, ended in a stalemate because of the insistence of the Ibjoda of their proposal.
Because of the deadlock, the LTFRB-Cordillera, through its hearing officer lawyer Brenda Dulnuan-Poklay, ordered the Ibjoda to make an amended petition within 10 days and for the commuters to file a counter petition within 15 days as basis for them to decide on the issue.
In their petition, the Ibjoda said the last time they applied for increase, which was granted, was in 1999 despite the successive increase in oil prices the past years. The group added the members are hard put maintaining their units due to the constant price hikes in oil and auto spare parts.
But the commuters reasoned out the latest fare increase took effect October 9, 2000 and not in 1999, as evidenced by a memo from the LTFRB Region II that has jurisdiction over Ifugao then. That fare rate used the add-on computation method.
The commuters also reasoned out the difficulty in maintaining the vehicles is not solely attributed to the constant oil price hike and price of auto spare parts but also to their negligence in giving due care to their units by overloading it.
They also maintained that the terrain and road conditions of Ifugao cannot be compared to those of Mountain Province and Benguet because Ifugao roads are a lot better than those of the two provinces, especially with the route to Lamut, Lagawe, Kiangan, and Banaue which are all cemented and well-maintained by the DPWH.
The commuters also cited Malacanang’s rejection of a proposed fare increase as it assured that the government is looking for ways to cushion the impact of new oil price hike.
The commuters also complained that some drivers are not implementing the 20 percent discount rates to students even senior citizens and disabled persons during Saturdays and Sundays and are hoping that LTFRB will penalize drivers and operators who defy the law.
The students, mainly from the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry, are worried that the exorbitant fare increase will surely pose another threat to their studies since most of them come from poor families. Daniel Codamon
(March 17, 2004 issue)
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