Just noise barrage for PUJ drivers in Cebu
Unlike the national capital and in other key cities of the country, protesting drivers in
The rain did not stop about 200 members of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo (NADSU), an affiliate of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), as they hopped from one concerned office to another to air their gripes.
The convoy first went to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office then headed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) before finally going to the Department of Energy (DOE) office at
Only regional directors Romulo Bernaldez of LTFRB and Raul Aguillos of LTO met with the leaders and accepted their position paper.
NADSU won’t claim that they are asking for fare increase, instead, they are just trying to recover what was not granted to them for the past years.
NADSU spokesperson Ruben Rama, said that the rally-caravan was a call for a “recovery increase,” the abolition of oil deregulation law, and the solution for the discriminations experienced by drivers from the officials of LTO.
The lack of support from other transport groups in the city however saddened Rama. He explained that these transport groups did not fully understand the interests of the drivers.
In 2004, Rama said, their petition for P5.50 minimum fare was not granted to them. Instead, a P5.00 minimum fare was implemented because of a petition for 50 centavo reduction on the supposed increase.
Rama revealed that a similar case happened in 2005 when drivers petitioned for P2.00 fare rate increase. The LTFRB 7, whose Regional director then was Rogelio “Jingjing” Osmeña, approved only an additional fare of P1.00.
LTFRB executive director, Atty. Emmanuel Mahipus however said, “Ing-ana man gyud na no, it doesn’t mean nga kung unsa ang gipetition nimo, mao sad nga amount ang magrant sa imo (It’s always like that, it doesn’t mean that the amount petitioned will always be the same amount to be granted).”
Mahipus also said the board has taken consideration on the petition and is currently evaluating the case. But, they cannot assure an immediate result because there are lots of factors to be weighed.
They had the first hearing of the P.50 provisional increase yesterday and will come up with a result by this week.
At the LTO, the protesters aired their concern on the discrimination that drivers experience whenever they try to get their licenses and the wrongdoings of traffic officials on field.
On the other hand, NADSU lambasted the Department of Energy as inutile because the drivers see the agency as not doing anything to help control the oil and petroleum price hikes.
The drivers called for the abolition of oil deregulation law, which they blame for the uncontrolled increase in oil prices.
Not a Problem for Cops
Cebu City Police Office Chief Patrocinio Comendador said that the probable reason for the lack of participation of other transport groups was because the local government has continuously given drivers enough support.
“National issues may not be true in the local setting,” Comendador added. This is why the massive strike in
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