THE transport sector in Negros Occidental is pressing the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to implement the fare rate increase agreed by the transport sector in Western Visayas amid the big time oil price hike imposed by the oil companies effective yesterday, May 22.

Diego Malacad, secretary-general of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc), said they also reached a unity agreement to demand for the resignation of the LTFRB regional director Richard Osmeña for his inaction to implement, and act the P9-fare rate hike agreed by the transport sector in public hearing held in Iloilo on February 5.

"We call on our local officials to join the call for Osmeña's resignation because up to this time, he has not forwarded to the Central Office of the LTFRB the agreed fare rate hike.

During that time, the price of diesel was only P38 per liter but now it has already reached to P44.72 per liter," Malacad said.

Gasoline companies have implemented effective Tuesday, May 22 an increase of P1.60 per liter for gasoline, and P1.10 per liter for diesel.

Drivers of public utility jeeps are clamoring that from P500, their take-home has reduced to P300 per day because of too much and continuous increase in the prices of fuels.

Prices of foods and basic necessities are also too high.

The drivers said they also received reports that the price of gasoline would go up to P70 per liter. If that will happen they will stop driving, and may shift to construction work.

Elizabeth Katalbas of the Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association said they already filed the fare rate hike petition in April with another transport group, Samahan Ng Tsuper at Operators Negros, but up to now, the LTFRB failed to act on it.

Katalbas said they should have brought out their concerns with President Rodrigo Duterte last Sunday, May 20.

Malacad said that before the P9-fare rate hike will be implemented, the LTFRB has to implement first the probation rate of P7.50 in 2012 but Osmeña has not done anything about it.