‘BAD FOR PUBLIC’

SOURCE: Panay News

A passenger jeepney picks up passengers in downtown Iloilo City. While waiting for the approved P2 fare increase to take effect, transport groups would petition for an additional hike – 50 centavos for every succeeding kilometer after the first four kilometers.

ILOILO City – Increasing the jeepney fare is a reasonable demand of drivers, according to the Panay Consumers’ Alliance (PCA). But the hike would also hurt the drivers and their families in the long run, it warned.

“We sympathize with the drivers. But like everyone else, they and their families are also consumers. Ang igo sa aton nga mga konsuminor daku gid ya,” said Lucy Francisco, PCA spokesperson.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved a P2 hike in jeepney fare for this city and Iloilo province. It would take effect this month upon the release of a new fare matrix.

The current minimum jeepney fare is P6.50. When the increase takes effect, a passenger has to pay P8.50.

The P2 increase is a burden to a family’s budget, said Francisco, especially if all family members commute daily.

She said households would be forced to slash their budgets for food and other family needs.

PCA offered a long-term alternative to the fare increase: abolish the expanded value-added tax and excise tax on fuel.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law sets yearly increments in the excise tax on oil and fuel products until 2020. For diesel, it is P2.50 per liter this 2018, P4.50 per liter in 2019, and P6 per liter in 2020.

For regular and unleaded premium gasoline, in excise tax increment is P7 per liter this 2018, P9 per liter in 2019, and P10 per liter in 2020.

The fare hike petitioners were the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA), Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association and the Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Owners and Drivers and Association.

They actually asked for a P5.50 fare increase but LTFRB Region 6 recommended only P2.50 to its central office.

But this was further slashed to P2 upon the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority, according to LTFRB Region 6 director Richard Osmeña.

“The implementation would most likely start by the second week (of August),” Osmeña said.

In seeking a fare increase, the petitioners cited the effects of the TRAIN Law on petroleum products, basic commodities and vehicle spare parts.

While waiting for the approved P2 fare increase to take effect, transport groups would petition for an additional hike.

This time, they wanted a 50-centavo increase in fare for every succeeding kilometer after the first four kilometers.

This was not stated in their previous petition for fare increase, according to Raymundo Parcon, president of ICLAJODA.

“Diri na lang kami mabawi sa succeeding kilometers,” he added.

They would file a petition for the additional increase before this month ends, said Parcon.

“If there is no increase in jeepney fare our drivers would suffer,” said Parcon. “They won’t be able to sustain the basic needs of their families because their daily collections are no longer enough.”