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Monday, May 19, 2008
PUJ, bus fare hiked by P0.50
MANILA -- Passengers of jeepneys and buses nationwide will have to pay an additional P0.50 to their regular fare starting Wednesday.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Thompson Lantion said Sunday that fare rates for jeepneys and buses will go up by P0.50 effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
To prevent confusion over the new rates, the LTFRB ordered all buses and jeepney operators to post the notice for the provisional fare increase on their vehicles at the start of the implementation.
The LTFRB, likewise, clarified that taxicabs are not included in the fare increase.
Done mostly to appease the transport sector amid rising costs of fuel, the increase is "provisional," meaning it can be withdrawn depending on the situation, the LTFRB chairman said.
"But the important thing here is that the government is not insensitive to the plight of the transport sector. The government is responding to the problem and we need to mitigate and alleviate the problem of the series of oil price increases," he said.
LTFRB Central Visayas Director Romulo Bernardes confirmed that the provisional increase "encompasses all regions."
He said that although he has not yet received any guidelines from the LTFRB Central Office, he expects the rules on how to implement the adjustment to be released within the week.
Bernardes will meet with representatives of transport groups and jeepney and bus operators Monday to discuss the development.
He also said that even if the tariffs and matrices will not be released, drivers of jeepneys and buses "may exact" the new rates if it is provided in the resolution the LTFRB board passed on Saturday.
He believes the provisional fare hike was granted to provide relief to operators and drivers who have been hit hard by the increases of fuel rates.
Local oil players announced they have raised pump prices of gasoline by P1 a liter for the third straight weekend effective Saturday.
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. was the first to implement the price increase after midnight Friday, followed at 6 a.m. by Petron and Chevron.
Since January this year, prices of gasoline and even diesel and kerosene have gone up 11 times, for a total increase of P7 a liter for gasoline and P6.50 for diesel and kerosene.
But militant transport groups led by the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston) have expressed dissatisfaction over the announcement.
Piston secretary-general George San Mateo said that their group is not asking for a fare increase since it will also affect the majority who are suffering from an increase in prices of basic commodities, not just fuel.
"What we are asking is for the government to address the problem directly and this is through the suspension of the 12 percent expanded value-added tax (E-Vat) being on oil products and the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law," San Mateo said.
Despite the provisional increase, their group will continue their fight to have the E-Vat suspended and the Oil Deregulation Law repealed, he said. More protest actions similar to that of last May 12 are being planned.
"Niloloko lang ng gobyernong Arroyo ang kanilang sarili kung pinapaniwala nila na tatahimik na ang hanay ng transportasyon sa pama-magitan ng pagbibigay ng (The Arroyo administration is deluded if it believes it has appeased the transport sector through this) provisional fare increase," he added.
Bernardes believes the provisional fare hike was approved since the petitions submitted by transport groups are still under study.
After meeting with transport groups and operators of public utility vehicles Monday, Bernardes will leave for Bohol to meet with Lantion and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) officials for the ground-breaking of the proposed Panglao International Airport.
He expects the matter to be discussed there.
Local oil firms said the price of Dubai crude shot up by about $12 a barrel to $115.46 as of May 15 from $103.41 in April.
The Department of Energy (DOE) attributed the high prices to the current geopolitical unrest in Nigeria and key oil producers in the Middle East such as Iran and Iraq. (AH/Sunnex/With CYR)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (May 19, 2008 issue)
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