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Monday, August 22, 2005
Passenger motorcycle drivers eye P1 fare hike
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
AS THE implementation of the P6.50 minimum fare rate for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) here come to a full swing, some motorela drivers gave mixed reactions on whether they too want an increase from the current P5.00 to P6 minimum fare rate.
This came with reports from the Transportation Federation of Cagayan de Oro (Trafeco) chairman Virgilio Valmoria that jeepney commuters usually pay only P6 and not the P6.50 minimum fare despite their genuine fare matrices.
In separate interviews, motorela drivers Vicente Samulan, Dodong Tabonod and Cesilo Bade said they also would also want to increase the fare to P6 minimum rate.
They said this even as they admitted that they are enjoying the "advantage" the lower fare is giving them over jeepneys when it comes to getting passengers.
"It is an advantage for us as passengers would opt to ride motorelas than jeepneys as there is a huge difference in the fare rate but we also have to consider the galloping oil price hikes," Samulan said.
Tabonod agreed with Samulan, adding that they also have to consider the rising prices of spare parts for their motorelas and of basic commodities.
Bade said some motorela drivers are also thinking of asking the City Council committee for public utilities to look into their situation considering that there are some motorela operators who are also increasing their daily rental fees.
"There are some of us who are just renting motorela and because the owners of these motorelas have increased their daily rents and the prices for gasoline have also increased, then there are really little left for our daily needs," he said.
But committee for public utilities chairman Ian Mark Nacaya, vice chairman City Councilor Alexander Dacer, and City Councilor Ian Acenas said they have yet to receive a petition from any motorela association for any fare rate increase.
"Not one that I know of--thank God and thanks to our motorela drivers," Nacaya said.
Dacer said if motorela drivers would be filing a petition, it would be taken up by the council after the fiesta celebration this month.
Several jeepney drivers are asking that the P5 motorela minimum fare should also be increased to P6 at least.
"Alkansi kaayo mi kay ang sa amoa P6.50 naman ang minimum fare ang mga motorela P5 ra dako kaayo ang deperensya mao ang mga tao mag-rela nalang kaysa magjeep," one of them said. (We are on the losing end because we charge P6.50 while motorelas charge only P5. Passengers would rather ride a motorela because of the fare is lower.)
But Valmoria said motorela drivers should not be granted any fare rate increase as they seem not to have been affected by the series of oil price hikes.
face="Verdana">(August 22, 2005 issue)
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