“Kung ito’y kinakailangan, alang-alang sa ating mga commuters, gagawin natin sa Pasang Masda at umaasa ako na gagawin din ito ng ating mga kasamahan sa transportasyon para sa isang maligayang Pasko ng ating mga kababayan,” Pasang Masda national president Obet Martin said.
The group noted that when the jeepney fare was increased to P8.50 in June, diesel was priced P45 per liter. Now, diesel is only P37 per liter, or P8 less than the previous price.
Pasang Masda has already informed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) about its plan. However, LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said the group needs to file a formal petition and go through the proper process.
“Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon naman ‘yung iba na magkaroon ng kanilang oppositions if they’re willing to do so,” Ginez said.
To date, transport groups Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), and Liga ng Transportasyon at mga Operator sa Pilipinas (LTOP) are against Pasang Masda’s proposal.
According to those opposed to the fare rollback, jeepney drivers have yet to gain profit from the P8.50 fare because of the heavy traffic and the high prices of vehicle spare parts.
Fare methodology
The report said deciding on the jeepney fare depends on many price factors: the diesel, spare parts of the vehicles, and commodities. The minimum wage of an ordinary employee is also taken into consideration.
Because of these, LTFRB is pushing to create a fare methodology that follows a formula as the basis of fare hikes and rollbacks.
“Ito’y magiging tool o gamit natin every time na magkakaroon ng re-evaluation ng fare setting,” Ginez said. “At hindi ‘yung parang pinagagawa natin ngayon na nagtatawaran lang during sa hearing.”
The National Center for Transportation Studies of the University of the Philippines has already been tasked to research on the proposal, he added. —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News
