TRANSPORT group belonging to the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) slammed Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Western Visayas chair Richard Osmeña for his alleged inaction on the fare increase.
Up to this time, the agency has yet to release the fare matrix after the hike of P9.00 was already approved in February this year.
"The LTFRB regional chair is not answering our phone calls, even the members of the media. His personnel at the LTFRB would not also issue a statement because they are not allowed by Osmeña to issue any statement about the fare hike," Malacad said.
Malacad said they have been asking Osmeña to issue the fare matrix so they could already implement the increase.
He said that fare hike has been implemented in the National Capital Region because they do not need the fare matrix because what was granted to the transport sector was a provisional adjustment of P1.00 from P8.00 to P9.00.
Malacad also said he will ask the other transport groups in the province especially the Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association and Samahan Ng Mga Tsuper at Operators Negros to hold a transport holiday in August to put pressure on Osmeña.
Transport holiday means we will be forced to observe “untat biyahe” because we will park our jeeps in our respective houses and go to the LTFRB office to demand the issuance of the fare matrix, Malacad said.
Malacad said that drivers will be heavily affected especially next month during the dry season when the sugar industry waits for the opening of the milling season in September.