Raps up vs drivers who don’t give discounts

While tackling the drivers’ petition for fare increase, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 has noted many complaints from commuters about public utility jeepney drivers who refuse to honor the 20 percent discount to students and senior citizens or the elderly.

In the preliminary public consultative hearing, conducted Wednesday at the LTFRB-7 office, senior citizens and students raised howls against ill-mannered conductors and drivers who refused to extend them the discounts mandated by the law.

Dominico Moneva, former general manager of the City Integrated Transport Services Multipurpose Cooperative (Citrasco) and now speaking as a senior citizen, said most drivers ignore the fare discount law, and some even “mock” the elderly for identification cards with birthdates.

Former LTFRB-7 director Manuel Iway, who has been opposing fare increase petitions, said that drivers should first comply with the discount and other laws before asking for fare adjustments.

LTFRB-7 regional director Romulo Bernardes told the complainants that the matter is already within the jurisdiction of the Land Transportation Office, which is mandated to apprehend jeepney or bus drivers who deny the 20 percent fare discounts to students and senior citizens.

Denial of fare discounts is a violation of the law, which is part of the registration licenses of the public utility vehicles of these drivers, said Bernardes, who urged the commuters to file complaints at the LTO and cases at the prosecutor’s office.

“Sampolan lang ba, I know this may be too far already but, go ahead, file a case since they are violating the laws implementing the discounts,” Bernardes told the public.

The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor is representing the Office of the Solicitor General, who is empowered to comment on any suggested fare adjustment.

The drivers’ side however has their own answer to the complaining public. A driver’s wife, who also work as conductor, told the people at the hearing that there are instances when senior citizens only pay P4 or P5. The drivers and conductors have no choice but to accept it, she said.

‘Naa pa juy mga estudyante nga mangambak lang o di gani nay uban muhangyo kay way ikaplite pero maluoy ra mi, mao nga di mao nang rason nga humanitarian kay naa pod mi anang mga namasahero,” said the driver’s wife.

Republic Act 9257, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003, grants students and the elderly a 20 percent discount on fares of buses, jeeps, planes and sea vessels.

The Department of Transportation and Communication, for its part, announced the activation of hotline 7890, or for long distance calls, 027890 for any transportation and travel-related complaints. — Ferliza C. Contratista/RAE