By JC BELLO RUIZ
Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the other day that there will be no fare hikes for public utility vehicles (PUVs) even after energy officials said pump prices of oil products would rise weekly until May because of surging oil prices in the world market.
In an interview after the oath-taking of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Tri-Media Association last Wednesday night, Mendoza said even transport groups were wary of seeking fare increases.
"Nakita n’yo tinanong ko nang point blank si Boy Vargas (president of Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines) at ang sagot sa atin walang mangyayaring fare hike. That’s why I am very thankful that the transport sector is very understanding. Naiintindihan nila ang kalagayan ng bansa at hindi nila sinasamantala ang sitwasyon," he said.
Mendoza made the same assurance in July last year during the middle of an oil crisis and a month after the minimum fare of jeepneys and buses were increased by R2 by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in June 2005.
Meanwhile, LTFRB Chairperson Maria Elena Bautista said transport authorities will "make sure no operator effects any fare increase without LTFRB approval."
Bautista appealed to PUV drivers and operators to refrain from implementing unauthorized fare hikes.
"We appeal to operators and drivers to observe fares prescribed by LTFRB. Any move to ask for increase will have to be thoroughly studied and will be subject to usual public hearings," Bautista said.
"Upon orders of President Arroyo, task forces will be deployed to protect passengers. All overcharging drivers and operators must be reported to LTFRB hotline 0921-4487777 or DoTC hotline 7890," she said.
Earlier, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) president Zenaida Maranan said transport groups will only ask for a fare increase if the price of diesel reaches R35 per liter.
Diesel prices currently range from P32 to P33 per liter.
The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) said raising fares this time could prove to be "disastrous" because of its economic implications.
PISTON spokesman George San Mateo downplayed the possibility of a fare hike for jeepneys and buses.
He said that transport groups will not ask for a fare hike as there are even some jeepney routes where drivers resort to undercharging.
|
