“Nananawagan ako sa mga kaibigan… na magsama-sama na tayo para mabigyan natin ng pamaskong handog ang ating mga pasahero,” Pasang Masda national president Obet Martin said in a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” on Sunday.
However, this suggestion was rejected by other jeepney transport groups.
Jeepney drivers and operators have yet to recover from the oil price increase this year, said Liga ng Transportasyon at mga Operator sa Pilipinas (LTOP) president Lando Marquez.
“Kawawa na naman itong mga tsuper na hindi nakaka-boundary dahil sa problema sa traffic, nagkakabuhul-buhol, baha kapag umuulan,” he said.
“Kung meron man ‘yong nagpapapogi, siguro kailangan magkaintidihan muna, mag-unawaan muna para mapag-usapan,” he added.
Other transport groups that rejected the call to make price adjustment were Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) and the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP).
The price of diesel is currently at around P38 per liter following a price rollback over the weekend.
A provisional fare increase of P8.5 minimum fare was enacted last June.
In separate interviews, two jeepney drivers concurred with the transport groups against the fare cut.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman talaga sapat dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagtaas ng [gasolina] minsan lang kami makapagtaas ng pamasahe,” one driver said.
“Kapag tumaas ang diesel, sana wag kaming pahirapan kapag kami ang humirit naman ng pasahe,” said the other.
New fare scheme?
Instead of filing a petition every time the drivers wish to increase the minimum fare, Martin suggested that an agreement between transport groups and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) be forged. Under the proposed agreement, the prices of diesel should automatically increase or cut the fare.
For instance, the minimum fare should be maintained at P8 if the price of diesel is below P40 per liter; if the diesel prices climb to P40/L to P43/L, the minimum fare should be at P8.50; if the gasoline prices are between P44/L to P46/L, then the fare should be at P9; and if diesel prices breach P47/L, then the minimum fare should be at P10.
“Ito lang siguro ang magiging solusyon dito para hindi na tayo nagkakaroon pa ng pataasan ng jingle,” Martin said.
Currently, transport groups must file a petition at the LTFRB before they can increase or decrease the minimum fare. The regulatory agency then approves or rejects the petition.
Passengers’ plea
As expected, passengers concurred with Martin’s call to lower jeepneys’ minimum fare.
“Dapat ngang ibalik yung P8 kasi mahirapan din tayong kumuha ng 50 centimos. Halimbawa, bibigay kami ng P9, di nasusuklian,” one passenger recalled.
“Maliit na bagay pero malaking tulong,” another passenger said.
For her part, Elvira Medina, president of National Council for Commuters Safety and Protection, said: “Makipagtulungan po tayo. Hindi po tayo magkalaban. Tayo po ay magkakampi sa daan.” — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/BM, GMA News
