ILOILO City – If the rift among board members of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would result to the recall of the P2 jeepney fare increase in this city and Iloilo province, drivers and operators would stage a strike, warned the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA).
“Chairman Martin Delgra III and Board member Aileen Lizada should not drag us into their conflict. We waited for the approval of our fare hike petition for months. We’ve suffered enough from the rising prices of fuel,” said ICLAJODA president Raymundo Parcon.
Lizada filed a complaint against the staff of Delgra before the Office of the Ombudsman Friday last week. The P2 jeepney fare increase was excessive, she asserted, and that the order approving the hike did not have her signature as it was surreptitiously taken out of her office.
“Spare us from your quarrel,” said Parcon, adding that he knew the approval of their fare hike petition got delayed primarily because it got stuck at Lizada’s office.
ICLAJODA and two other transport groups filed the fare hike petition early this year. In June they learned from LTFRB Region 6 that it was approved.
But it was only on Aug. 30 that it was enforced following delays in the publication of the LTFRB central office’s order approving it.
The approved P2 increase in the minimum would not even suffice, said Parcon, and they plan to petition for an additional 50-centavo charge for every succeeding kilometer after the minimum first four kilometers.
In her 31-page complaint, Lizada stated that the P2 fare hike was “in excess of the fare hike as supported by the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry).”
NEDA’s recommended fare hike was only P1.50, according to Lizada, while DTI pushed for a “lower or minimal fare adjustment.”
LTFRB may recall its order approving the P2 fare increase, according to Lizada.
“Indi pwede ma-withdraw. Tindugan namon ina,” declared Parcon yesterday.
If LTFRB would recall its order, he said jeepney drivers and operators would stage a transport strike.
“Indi ‘ni lango-lango. Nakagasto na kami,” said Parcon.
To collect the P2 fare increase, jeepney drivers and operators were required to secure a fare matrix for P610 a piece at the LTFRB-6.
According to Parcon, “85 percent” of jeepney operators in Iloilo City and “40 percent” in Iloilo province already paid for the new fare matrixes.
The new minimum fare is P8.50 for regular passengers and P6.80 for senior citizens, students and persons with disabilities.
The previous minimum fare was P6.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.15 for every succeeding kilometer.
LTFRB approved a P2 increase in the minimum fare (this time for the first four kilometers). There is no new rate for succeeding kilometers.
ICLAJODA, Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association and the Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Owners and Drivers and Association actually asked for a P5.50 hike. They 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
