Thursday, May 22, 2008 Editorials: No flip-flopping on fare hike
FLIP-FLOPPING may not be the correct description for the seeming confusion in government pronouncements on the P0.50 provisional fare hike.
The test of the flip-flopping is the implementation, which in this case did not change.
Despite Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza's statement that the fare hike implementation would be deferred, it was not moved.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman can even shout vindication because the fare hike was imposed as scheduled Wednesday.
Contrary views
The initial confusion actually stemmed from the muddling of roles.
While LTFRB is the right agency to decide on fare hikes, higher offices, like the Department of Transportation and Communication and Malacañang do interfere.
Even if the LTFRB decision may have been correct, Lantion should have deferred to Mendoza and even President Arroyo, who initially had a contrary view on the issue.
More so because government has earlier announced subsidies for drivers for them to be able to cope up with rising prices of gasoline and stave off a fare hike.
Balancing act
In the end, however, the P0.50 provisional fare hike was the best solution to a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation for the Arroyo administration.
While it may not have totally appeased a restive transport sector, it blunted the logic of the earlier plan of drivers and operators to go on a “holiday.”
The strike threat was premised on government's refusal to grant a fare hike.
Even if it is not what the petitioners sought, P0.50 is still a fare hike and the provisional nature of the increase gives hope to those asking for more.
And because the hike is “only” P0.50, passengers can be more understanding.
Consultation
After this, however, the tricky part for government is in tackling the petitions of transport groups and deciding on whether to impose or not a permanent fare hike.
This time around, the balancing act should include inputs from passengers' groups, something that is often overlooked by the government in deciding fare increases.
