LTFRB decision on jeepney fare hike known today

Another crippling transport strike may be averted as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announces its decision today on the petition of five major jeepney groups for a P1 "provisional" increase in minimum fare.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza ordered yesterday its attached agency, the LTFRB, to issue a ruling on the petition as another transport strike looms.

A favorable decision will cancel the next transport strike slated March 8, the petitioners said.

LTFRB Chairman Maria Elena Bautista said they were ready for the 3 p.m. "showdown" arranged by the DOTC in its office in Mandaluyong City.

"We are ready with our decision," Bautista told The STAR in a phone interview.

Five jeepney groups namely, the Philippine Confederation of Drivers‚ Organization Alliance of Concerned Transport Association (PCDO-ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Fejodap), Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), Altodap, and MJODA filed last Feb. 18 a "consolidated" petition for a P1.50 jeepney fare hike with the LTFRB.

The jeepney groups included a corollary petition for provisional authority to increase the jeepney fare by P1 while the LTFRB was deciding on the main "consolidated" petition.

Bautista said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) already gave its comment on the petition which she stressed was important "because the OSG is the representative of the public."

"They are the lawyer of the people of the Philippines," she said.

Mendoza, along with DOTC Undersecretary Arturo Valdez, met yesterday with officials of jeepney groups Fejodap, PCDO-ACTO and Piston, in a bid to convince the groups to call off another nationwide strike Monday.

The 20,000-strong Piston earlier said it was not inclined to join the next transport strike because it coincides with International Women’s Day. It added, however, that it can provide the numbers if needed by fellow groups.

In the meeting, officials of the jeepney groups condemned the LTFRB’s tough treatment on jeepney operators who joined Monday’s strike and the Board’s prolonged decision on their petition.

"Like what was agreed on, we will be here (DOTC office) to find out what is the decision of the LTFRB. Whatever the decision, we (transport groups) will meet to discuss it," Efren de Luna, national president of the PCDO-ACTO, told The STAR.

Transport groups staged a nationwide "Tigil Pasada" last Monday that crippled some 90 percent of transportation services in parts of Metro Manila as well as in key areas in the provinces. Thousands were left stranded during the strike.

The strikers are also demanding a rollback in oil prices and the scrapping of the oil deregulation law that gives oil companies leeway to increase fuel prices.

In their dialogue with DOTC officials, officials of the jeepney groups noted the LTFRB had already denied last year a petition for a P1 jeepney fare increase which they filed in 2002.

They lamented they were made to wait in vain for several months on their petition while prices of oil, particularly diesel and spare parts, continued to rise.

Charges

Militant groups urged yesterday five jeepney operators to file criminal and administrative charges against LTFRB chairman Bautista for suspending their franchises after they joined Monday’s transport strike.

Crispin Beltran, chairman of party-list Anakpawis, said when Bautista suspended the franchises of the jeepney operators it is as if she had committed economic sabotage.

"This is tantamount to economic sabotage and mass murder of small people’s livelihood in the transport sector," he said.

Beltran said the suspension of jeepney franchises in Metro Manila was an "open declaration of war" against the transport sector.

"President Arroyo will gain political losses from this open display of national arrogance and betrayal of public trust," he said.

The franchises of the five Metro Manila-based jeepney operators were suspended for 30 days, he added.

On the other hand militant labor union Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) urged jeepney drivers and small jeepney operators to unite against "a concerted attack" on their ranks.

Joel Maglunsod, KMU secretary-general, said Bautista has no justifiable reason to revoke the franchises of striking jeepney operators.

"This move by the LTFRB is nothing but plain and outright harassment," he said.

"No abandonment of routes happened last Monday. Thousands of drivers willingly joined the nationwide strike to demand substantial livelihood through additional fares. They appreciate the need and importance of collective actions in asserting their just demands."

Maglunsod said Bautista, instead of resolving the demands and issues raised by jeepney drivers, resorted to pressure tactics and repression.

"Bautista ensured that no fare hikes will be implemented, not because she is protecting the interest of commuters and the riding public, but because she is protecting the political image of (President Gloria) Macapagal-Arroyo at the expense of thousands of poor drivers and operators," he said.

Bautista refused to identify the operators whose franchises have been suspended, but these were four individual single jeepney operators and a jeepney transport cooperative.

Militant organizations warned the government to brace for more crippling transport strikes, especially in the wake of the suspension of the franchises of jeepney operators who joined Monday’s strike.–Mike Frialde