HAPPY WEEKEND

The fare hike squeeze
GINA DIZON

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- I would like to talk about transportation hike and the travails that it is giving the commuting public. I received a text message from my niece who goes to a local college saying that the fare to nearby Bontoc town is now P50 from the former P35. The most that I could tell her was to ask her classmates who take the 18-km jeepney ride from Sagada to come together and protest.

I was feeling composed that she and her classmates will rally the drivers to bring the fare down to at least P40 from the former P35. Any amount that will roll the amount down from 50 will at least add for her allowance. What happened? I was disgusted when I came to know from some people in the sleepy town that students who attended the consultation were the ones who approved the fare hike to P50! I

f that is true, here are students who are still going to school, dependent on their parents and guardians for their fare and everyday needs and they have the nerve to approve an excessive fare hike? Students I know are still at their idealism and questioning stage so why the approval?

I asked from my niece if she was one among the students who attended the consultation and came to know that she was not. That brought my irritation toned down a little bit. Nevertheless, and in what ever angle you will see it, the fare hike is excessive. An increase of 15 is too much. Let us see what authorities say about the fare increase.

The P1increase was approved by the National Economic Development Authority board after a presentation by the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board. The fare hikes came as fuel prices continue to increase 18 times for a total of 35 percent since January. With NEDA’s approval, jeeps nationwide would now be charging P8.50 from P7.50 for the first four kilometers, plus P1.50 for every succeeding kilometer.

Reports say, for ordinary buses plying Metro Manila, the increase will be from P9 to P10 for the first five kilo­meters, plus P0.20 for every succeeding kilometer. For the air-conditioned buses, the increase would be computed as 20 percent of what is charged by ordinary buses. Reports said this was from P11.50 to P12.50.

For ordinary buses, the increase would be P1 for the first five kilometers on top of the existing P9 minimum fare or a new total of P10. An additional 20 centavos will be added to the existing P1.75 for every succeeding kilometer reports say.

Meantime, provincial bus operators sought a 20-centavo-per-kilometer provisional fare increase. The P0.20 adjustment will be on top of the P0.50 provisional fare increase granted by the LTFRB in May. The provincial increase brought the fare to P2 from the previous P1.50 per kilometer.
To use the above calculation for PUJs for the Sagada-Bontoc route, I came up with a calculation at P29.50 per way. The increase of P15 to 50 is something I’m not fully resolved with except that I see its excessive.

I came to understand that drivers and operators have to apply for a special fare in cases of a difficult terrain, higher cost of fuel, and maintenance cost. If the Sagada drivers and operators will properly present their calculation to LTFRB and LTFRB consents to a P15 increase, then the 50 transportation cost would be proper and legal.

While this is the case, the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations will join the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide in moving for the abolition of the value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products.