Monday, June 09, 2008 Drivers map out June 16 transport holiday
PUBLIC utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers have threatened to hold a transport holiday next week if the P1.50 fare increase they demanded will not be implemented.
Clifford Niñal, Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (Citrasco) chairman, said they agreed with other transport groups, like the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo and the Visayas United Drivers Transport and Allied Services Cooperative, to hold a strike on June 16.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 could avert the protest action if it approves the request for an eight-peso minimum fare in Central Visayas.
Niñal said that the LTFRB central office has delegated the task of hearing the petition to the regional office. He hoped that Director Romulo Bernardes will decide before June 16.
The demand for P1.50 more in minimum fare was prompted by increases in fuel prices.
Niñal said the provisional P0.50 fare adjustment implemented last month was not enough to ease the drivers’ suffering.
“Luoy na kaayo ang mga drayber kay mga P20 ngadto sa P30 nalang ang ilang mauli. Daghan nang mga unit ang nag-standby kay di nalang sila mo-drive kay wa man silay makita, alkansihon pa gani sa abang? (The drivers should be pitied because they only bring home P20 to P30. A lot of PUJs are not plying the streets because the drivers refuse to drive. Who would when they earn nothing, and could not even pay for the rent?),” he said.
He explained that a transport holiday is not meant to hassle the riding public but to make the government realize that they are intent on getting what they want.
“We do not want to make the people suffer, which is why as early as dawn, we will no longer drive so they would not be able to report to work or go to school and end up not getting a ride home,” he said, in Cebuano. (From CPL of Superbalita)
