The additional 50-centavo provisional increase is more likely to be granted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 ahead of the approval of the petition for the P8.50 minimum jeepney fare for Central Visayas.
In yesterday’s initial public consultative hearing, LTFRB-7 director Romulo Bernardes said he was convinced that the granting of the additional provisional increase is reasonable considering the increases in the price of gasoline happening almost everyday.
“I am certain it will be given ahead before the new fare increase,” Bernardes said of the provisional hike, which will push the minimum fare up at P7, without yet the P8.50 hike petitioned by the transportation groups. The P8 minimum fare was however the choice of the majority who attended the hearing yesterday.
The hearing was called to hear the sentiments of the public on the amended petition filed by transport groups, to have an increase of P2.50 instead of the original petition of P1.50 filed last December.
Transport groups, lead by the City Integrated Transport Services Multipurpose Cooperative (CITRASCO) were present together with representatives from academe, senior citizens’ sector, and the commuters and petition oppositor, former LTFRB head Manuel Iway.
All parties were given five working days to submit their position papers and other evidences for or against the petitioned rate, either for P8 or P8.50. Afterward, the matter will be turned over to the Provincial Prosecutors Office, representing the Office of the Solicitor General, which will then recommend the approved rate.
Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba said her office wanted to be furnished with the mathematical computation and justification of the proposed rates viz-a- viz the cost of fuel, and transportation rental, among other factors. Bernardes said that when the SolGen is ready with the comment, another hearing will be scheduled.
Earlier in the hearing, CITRASCO vice president Ryan Benjamin Yu, who came without a lawyer, questioned the validity of the meeting on whether it was a hearing or a mere consultation. He said the transport groups refused to participate and the pushing through of the said public hearing because it lacked the period and publication requirements.
“Precisely why we came without or legal adviser since he only received it June 10 or a day before the hearing and he already has prior commitments, we strongly oppose for this meeting to form part of our petition,” Yu said.
LTFRB’s lawyer Douglas Sanson answered that the requirement had already been met since the one heard is only an amendment of the original petition filed in December.
“They only changed the prayer, which is from P1.50 to P2.50, the new petition now forms part of the pleadings of the petition filed in December, they are not withdrawing the old one and so there is no more need for the requirements of time and publication of the Notice of Hearing,” Sanson said.
Due to the urgency of the measure, the transport groups were given a chance yesterday to immediately air their position, said Sanson while questioning the capacity of Yu as representative of the petitioners.
The hearing was attended also by two students, representing invited universities, who were however unable to present their position on the issue. James Co, representing the Supreme Student Council of the University of San Carlos, said they are asking for another date of hearing since they were unprepared and the students were under represented.
Frederick Abello, also a student of Cebu Normal University, said he attended the hearing as a commuter who found the P8 minimum fare proposal reasonable enough.
Other issues raised in the hearing included the non-compliance of the 20 percent discount to senior citizens and students, as well as allegations of rudeness and discourtesy by the drivers. The drivers were quick to defend that it is the Land Transportation Office (LTO) which handles the complaints.
Tony Pogado, a former transport leader, said these issues should not be used as hindrance for the implementation of the fare increase.
“Dili ni sila ang mga pinbaka-basic, og himuon nga rason nga makapugong sa pagusbaw sa plitehan kay wa ni kapugong sa usbaw sa presyo sa lana,” he said.
Ruben Rama, of the Nagkahiusang Driver sa Sugbo, said his group for its part has joined the call for uniformity of fare rates nationwide. He said that it is only in Central Visayas that the minimum fare is lowest even if the price of fuel is more expensive than in Luzon. — Ferliza C. Contratista, staff member, with Jessica Ann Pareja, UP intern/RAE