ILOILO City – Calls for a hike in public transport fare will like not gain traction, according to Director Richard Osmeña of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Region 6.
A petition from three transport groups (two in Iloilo and one in Bacolod City) requesting for such increase due to the rise in fuel cost has reached the attention of Department of Transportation (DOTr) secretary Arthur Tugade.
Osmeña said Tugade put forward alternatives to a fare hike – government subsidy to drivers and increasing the passenger capacity in public transportation.
“May ayuda nga i-hatag ang gobyerno,” said Osmeña.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would allot P1 billion in fuel subsidy to public transport drivers.
On Monday (Nov. 8), the LTFRB and DOTr will issue guidelines for the fuel subsidy’s distribution.
“Nagahulat pa kita sang guidelines kon pila per driver, pila ka mga driver and how to disburse the money,” said Osmeña.
LTFRB and DOTr are also allowing a 70 percent seating capacity in public utility jeepneys as well as the removal of plastic dividers separating passengers.
However, Osmeña clarified that should local governments wish to retain the plastic barriers, “we will leave it up to them.”
Public utility jeepney operators and drivers in Panay Island earlier called for a P2.50 increase in fare.
The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers’ Association, the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association, and Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, among others, are seeking an additional P2.50, or from the P9 minimum fare to P11.50 and additional P1.50 for the first four kilometers./PN