THE transport sector in Negros Occidental is waiting for the action and approval of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on the P9 wage hike petition.
Diego Malacad, secretary-general of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc), said while their group is already contented with the recently approved fare hike petition of P9, the Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association (Febacda) and Sentrong Samahan Ng Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTONE) has filed another fare hike petition, P10, last April 19.
Malacad said the P9 fare rate hike was already approved by the LTFRB but it has yet to be implemented.
The approval came after the public hearing, which was agreed by the transport sector from six provinces in Western Visayas.
Malacad said that in the public hearing conducted by Bacolod Councilor Dindo Ramos, chair of the City Council transportation committee, Febacda and SSTONE even signified their respective positions for the implementation of the P8 original fare in the province.
“We do not know if this new petition of Febacda and SSTONE are just way of muddling the situation because of their earlier stand that they don't intend to ask for the fare rate hike,” Malacad said.
As far as their group is concerned, they are asking for P12 but they are already contended of the P9, which they believe could already help the take-home pay of the drivers, he said.
Transport groups in Manila are asking for the P10 fare rate hike because of the continuous increase in the prices of fuels.
Another fare rate increase is expected Tuesday, April 24.