ILOILO City – A meeting with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra III yesterday left Iloilo jeepney drivers disappointed and more confused than clarified.
A month after having been informed that their petition for fare increase had been approved, the drivers learned from Delgra that LTFRB was yet to come out with a resolution about it.
Worse, instead of the P2.50 increase they were previously told by LTFRB Region 6 director Richard Osmeña, Delgra told drivers that the approved increase was only P2.
Confused with the new information, the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) would be seeking clarification, said its president Raymundo Parcon.
ICLAJODA was one of the fare hike petitioners. The others were the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (ICADA) and the Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Owners and Drivers and Association (CIPJODA).
Delgra met Iloilo drivers during yesterday’s pre-launching of modern passenger jeepneys at Vista Mall in Oton, Iloilo.
“Wala pihu. Suno kay Chairman Delgra approved na sa central office pero wala pa sila resolution. Ang aton mga drivers atat na atat na kay ti tama kataas ang inflation,” said Parcon.
On June 22, Parcon confirmed that the LTFRB central office approved a fare increase – from P6.50, the minimum fare will be P9 in this city and Iloilo province.
But without a new fare matrix, drivers could not impose the new fare rate, said Parcon.
In seeking the fare increase, the petitioners cited the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law’s additional excise tax on petroleum products, basic commodities and vehicle spare parts./PN
