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By Rhick Lars VladimerAlbay
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February 6, 2018
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ICADA, ICLAJODA, CIPJODA want basic fare raised to P12 amid TRAIN roll out
ILOILO City – Three transport groups are calling for a P5.50 fare increase for public utility jeepneys (PUJ) plying routes in both the city and the province, as local drivers bear the brunt of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law’s additional excise tax on petroleum products.
Two of the biggest alliances of jeepney owners and drivers associations in Iloilo City, and the lone alliance in the Province of Iloilo have submitted a joint petition to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 requesting to hike local fares to equal that of Metro Manila, as they seek to offset the effects of TRAIN on their daily earnings.
The plea of the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (ICADA), Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Assocation (ICLAJODA), and Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Owners and Drivers and Association (CIPJODA) is seen to effectively bring the basic fare for regular jeepney passengers to P12 and the fare of students, senior citizens, and PWDs to P10.
The petition was slated for a public hearing on Monday, as the LTFRB-6 calls on the transport groups and all stakeholders to present all the necessary evidence and precedence to consider the proposed fare hike for approval.
Under the TRAIN Law, the excise tax on oil and fuel products is set to be increased in increments until 2020. For diesel, TRAIN is set to hike prices by P2.50 per liter this 2018, by P4.50 per liter in 2019, and by P6 per liter in 2020 onwards.
Meanwhile, for regular and unleaded premium gasoline, TRAIN mandates a P7 per liter excise tax this 2018, a by P9 per liter increase in 2019, and by P10 per liter starting 2020.
In their petition, ICADA, ICLAJODA, and CIPJODA specifically cited the impact of the TRAIN Law on their livelihood as their main reason to request for a fare hike.
However, Piston Panay has expressed that they do not support the proposed exorbitant increase, although they are sympathetic to the plea of Ilonggojeepney drivers. Piston Panay is suggesting a fare increase of only P2.50– and potentially another increment later on – as to not burden local commuters abruptly.
In an earlier interview with Panay News, Piston Panay president Edgar Salardawarned that the higher gas prices under TRAIN would likely lead to higher prices for prime commodities and even increased jeepney fares in the near future.
“Sasubongnagalab-ot P35 per liter ang diesel kagmalapit P50 per liter ang gasoline, kagangpresyongainasigi man taas. Consideringngamapatumanpagidanggobyerno sing excise tax, madakugidsiyangapasakitsamgadriver kagmotorist,” explained Salarda in January before the rollout of the TRAIN’s excise taxes on petroleum prices.
“Imbes mag-expect kitakay [president Rodrigo] DutertengabuliganmakaluwassakapigadohanangmgaFilipino, nakitanamunngasiya mas naga-paborsamgadakunganegosyantekagsaburukatakapitalismo,” said Salarda.
“Ang TRAIN nagahatagtuod sing mas mataasnga tax exemption, perosaibansiningabuwis, bawiongyaponsapagtaas sing mgapresyokamgabalaklon, pagmahal sing gasolina,kagbasipati singplete sing mgapumuluyo,” he concluded./PN
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