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CEBU CITY, Philippines - Transport groups will no longer push for fare adjustment following the recent rollback in fuel and crude oil prices.
Ryan James Yu, executive director of the City Integrated Transport Services Cooperative (Citrasco), yesterday said they will withdraw their petition filed before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) within the week.
Their decision, he added, was supported by their allied groups.
Yu said the P2 rollback within a span of two weeks prompted Citrasco not to press for a fare hike. He added the government was also serious in implementing policies to help the transport sector.
“So far the government has been doing concrete actions on drafting modernization plans for the transport sector and we are amenable to it,” Yu added.
Yu said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her speech during the Energy Summit in Manila, gave assurance to prioritize projects that would alleviate the transport sector. This included implementing the P1 discount scheme for PUJ drivers and extending soft loans for LPG conversions of PUJs.
Citrasco filed a petition last year, asking the LTFRB in Central Visayas to adjust the minimum fare to P7.50 and P1.50 for succeeding kilometer.
Douglas Sanson, LTFRB assistant regional director, welcomed the decision of the group.
He added that the P2 rollback in the past days means that PUJ drivers can now get at least P50 for the average 25 liters of crude or gasoline they can consume a day.
“I believe that the petitioners are responsible persons and being responsible people, the move to withdraw the petition will be welcomed by our central office,” he said.
But the Alyansang Nagkahiusang Draybers alang sa Reporma (Andar) will not withdraw their petition for fare adjustment but will not push for fare adjustment.
Boboi Belarmino, Andar’s legal counsel, yesterday said their petition will stay until there is a need to ask for an adjustment.
Belarmino said that with the recent rollback of gasoline prices and the efforts of the government to address the concerns raised by drivers and operators, the transport groups are inclined not to push for a fare adjustment.
Romeo Armamento, Andar vice chairman, said they will push for the implementation of P1 discount in fuel for PUJ drivers as promised by Arroyo.
Armamento said that they will also write the Office of the President to also put up “Spare Parts ng Bayan” by tying up with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Internal Revenue in giving discounted prices of spare parts, tires and batteries.
