Rules on low-tariff imports of PUV spare parts OK’d

President Arroyo approved yesterday the implementing guidelines on low tariff importation of vehicle spare parts for public utility jeepneys and buses (PUJs and PUBs) for a period of six months.

The President and the Cabinet, in a meeting last week, decided to adopt the measure as a "safety net" to avert a fare hike by PUJs and PUBs.

This is to ease their costs of maintenance following the series of increases in the price of imported crude oil, President Arroyo said.

In addition, President Arroyo said she has instructed Energy Secretary Vicente Perez to consult with owners of gasoline stations in provinces outside Metro Manila to also extend discounts to PUJs and PUBs.

President Arroyo made these announcements yesterday over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan in response to requests by public transport groups to avail of the discounted price of diesel being enjoyed by PUJs and PUBs in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

"We have now 97 gasoline stations in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces that give discounted price of diesel," the President said.

President Arroyo appealed yesterday to drivers and operators groups not to proceed with their planned transport strike to dramatize their demand to the government to grant their pending fare hike petitions to enable them to cope with the continued rising gasoline prices.

She said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Elena Bautista, Perez and businessman Raul Concepcion of the Consumer Oil Price Watch Monitoring have been holding discussions with the various public transport groups to come up with other "safety net" measures.