Letter to the Editor - Driver stabbed by passenger due to fare misunderstanding

This was one of the bad news I read from your paper one early morning a few days ago, and I said to myself this is one tragic incident bound to happen after LTFRB issued the vague memo, "Piso Ra Ang Umento" as their answer to the clamor for increase fare rate.

Yes, piso ra ang umento but since most of our drivers and conductors are dishonest, they came up with their own fare rate posted on their vehicles way above the legally allowed piso ra. Piso ra from what? We don't see any previous rate to compare it with.

Take for example Ayala Terminal to Hi-way Mandaue City that is only four to five kilometers distance, they charge P8; that supposed to be only the minimum or P6. Sto. Niño Church to Mandaue Public Market they charge 9 to 10 pesos and that's only seven to eight kilometers distance. That's obviously overcharging.

They are not only overcharging us the poor commuters but also they no longer honor the legally mandated student and senior citizen discounts. Not only that, they are also overloading their vehicles to the utter discomfort of their passengers.

What is more disheartening is that our authorities are not doing anything within their power to correct these blatant violations of our passenger jeepneys. Busy issuing fake franchises where there are more money involved?
Andres E. Gestopa
Centro, Mandaue City