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Saturday, March 13, 2004
Cebu drivers call off strike
CEBU CITY -- Drivers decided to put off next week's two-day nationwide transport strike after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 agreed to discuss their proposed P1 provisional increase.
However, Jaime Moncada, chairman of Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Drivers Alang sa Reporma (Andar), said they will never agree to any increase lower than P1 since there is another impending oil price increase.
"There's going to be trouble if the fare increase is only 50 centavos, since there's an upcoming oil price adjustment of 90 centavos per liter. So if the proposed fare increase is only 50 centavos, no way," he said in a press conference Friday.
The LTFRB central office scheduled a consolidated hearing of the petition for fare increase on March 16.
LTFRB 7 Director Benito Dy-Cesar Jr., in a letter to Moncada dated March 11, said Andar's proposal for the grant of a P1 provisional increase is well taken.
Dy-Cesar asked Andar to "flesh out" their proposal with a formula or system that is "acceptable" to the board, and asked them to submit it with their petition.
However, Cerecio "Nonoy" Mapula of Andar said the concept of the provisional increase is the amount and not the "volatility of the situation," so computing the proposed increase with the oil price changes is "not acceptable."
Citing that their petition connotes "immediacy," they would not say how long they will wait for the board to approve their petition.
Based on the sentiment of the board after the March 16 meeting, they will discuss again what action to take next.
But Dy-Cesar also informed Moncada that the supposed nationwide strike last March 8 that was spearheaded by the Manila Transport Group fizzled out due to the concessions granted by the board through "intense" negotiations involving Secretary Leandro Mendoza himself.
The concessions include the P1 reduction on the price of diesel fuel for all public utilities, allowing PUVs to ply out of line for emergency and personal use, and the easing of the 6th month period for filing of applications for extension of expired franchises.
Moncada said that in Cebu, the rollback of fuel prices is only in selected stations of Petron and Caltex. So, some jeepney drivers who do not ply along the said gas stations cannot enjoy cheaper rates.
(March 13, 2004 issue)
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