Thursday, November 06, 2008 Wenceslao: Rduced fare By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
IF you think of insisting that commuters are all agog over the 50 cents reduction in fare rates, don’t. Nobody has heaved a sigh of relief as yet, except perhaps drivers and operators who have long been opposing fare reduction demands. Instead, some sectors are agonizing over government ineptitude and cowardice, and transport groups’ greed.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) officials stressed that the ordered fare reduction is but provisional, which is supposed to be an assurance that a further slash will be ordered. Judging from the reaction of the petitioners of the fare reduction, however, not many people consider it as consolation enough.
Two points immediately stand out in this. One, that the provisional reduction is too small and came in too late, meaning it should have been granted earlier so commuters could have enjoyed the benefits of the plunge in oil prices for a longer period. Two, that there is no assurance of further fare reduction considering the volatility in oil pricing.
The culprit here are LTFRB officials taking their sweet time in deciding on the petitions filed for fare reduction, which can be intentional or a product of incompetence. Intentional because these officials seem afraid of getting the ire of transport groups, which hold transport strikes at a drop of a hat. That’s what I call government cowardice.
This is bad not only because it places commuters at a disadvantage but also because it proves the claim that this government only responds to grievances once those concerned initiates disruptive protest actions or take up arms. In this case, unorganized commuters are placed at a losing end, adding to the dissatisfaction with government.
It would be good then to reiterate some suggestions. One, LTFRB should do away with the system of requiring petitions from concerned groups before acting on changed circumstance, like the reduction or increase in oil prices that affects the pegging of fare rates. Public interest demands that government should respond swiftly to these issues.
Two, a formula should be hatched so reduction or increases in fare would automatically follow reductions or increases in the price of petroleum products. Current problems encountered in the pegging of fare rates show that the method in place has become cumbersome, ultimately putting at a disadvantage a big section of the populace.
This is something that government officials should really think about.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ my blog: cebuano.wordpress.com)
