Transport groups ok to reduce fare but…

CEBU, Philippines - As long as oil companies can assure that prices of fuel will remain the same in the next three months, the National Confederation of Transportworkers Unions will not oppose any petition to reduce fare.

“Di mi mu-oppose kung naa man gani ipasaka nga petisyon alang sa pagpa-ubos sa plete sa PUJ kung naay assurance ang mga oil companies nga magpabilin ang presyo sa lana sa sunod nga tulo ka buwan,” said Romeo Armamento, NCTU-Central Visayas national vice president.

Armamento said, however, that based on previous experiences, a price adjustment is inevitable every December due to a huge demand worldwide.

The Manila-based National Council on Commuters Safety and Protection is set to file a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board today for a P1 reduction in jeepney fare in the wake of a series of fuel price rollback.

Prices of Diesel now cost around P35 to P37 per liter while gasoline prices cost around P44 to P48. Since July this year, prices of diesel have rolled back 25 times for a total of P8.00.

LTRFRB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon explained that the agency cannot act on its own to reduce fare.

“Kinahanglan dunay petition nga i-file diha sa LTFRB. Kung naay i-file, we will receive and entertain that,” said Cuizon during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

 Cuizon added that once consumer groups or any interested parties file the petition, the agency will hear the side of drivers and operators through a public hearing.

For its part, the Department of Energy has insisted that a fare rollback – despite the big decrease in oil prices this year – needs to be studied carefully because there are risks involved that may even cause the prices to rise again.

It can be recalled that when prices of fuel starts to increase, Cebu-based transport cooperative, CITRASCO, withdrew a petition it filed sometime in March 2014  to increase the jeepney fare by P2.50. It also appealed to LTFRB to strengthen its enforcement on anti-colorum and out-of-line vehicles.

CITRASCO’s move buffled and stunned jeepney drivers and representatives of the driver’s association.

In the early part of 2012, CITRASCO filed a P1.50 fare hike petition before LTFRB-7 but the petition was set aside after fuel prices went down in May of 2012.

Prior to this, LTFRB granted a .50 cents provisional increase for jeepney’s fare nationwide in March 20, 2012 but on May 15, 2012, a minimum fare for jeepneys nationwide including Cebu was reverted to P7.50 after the LTFRB denied all fare hike petitions with finality. The amount is the prevailing minimum fare in Central Visayas. – (FREEMAN)