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UV Express operators formally ask LTFRB for P2/km fare hike


A group of UV Express operators made their plea to hike their current fare from P2 per kilometer to P4 official by filing a petition with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Code X national president Rosalino Marable said UV Express operators are bearing the weight of excise taxes on petroleum products under the recently-passed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, along with heavy traffic and the price of new vehicles and spare parts.

"Kahit nagtaas ang gasolina, nagtaas ang mga bilihin ay hindi kami nagtaas sapagkat gusto naming makatulong. Pero dumating na po ang sukdulan na kailangan na naming magtaas. Otherwise, mabubura na po kami sa larangan ng transportasyon," Marable said on a 24 Oras report by GMA News' Saleema Refran on Thursday.

The group's petition also cited the existence of corruption and "payolas" within the transport sector as one of the reasons why the fare should be doubled.

According to the UV operators, the total amount of money they handed to corrupt officials should be considered in the calculation of the new fare.

"In-accept naman po namin 'yun na 'yung mga payola ay part of doing business. Sabi po ng iba, sabi po ng ating kasama sa gobyerno, there's something wrong with the way we do business," Marable said.

"Kaya lang 'yun nga po eh, hindi maiiwasan. 'Pag iniwasan mo, eh di lalo kang mapapahirapan," he added.

LTFRB Martin Delgra, for his part, urged the operators to report the corrupt officials and file the proper cases instead of using them as justification for their fare hike request.

"Kasi kung gagawin mo 'yan — this is just my personal take — para bang jina-justify mo 'yung gastos na iligal doon sa pagfa-factor ng pagtaas ng pasahe," Delgra said.

"Kung meron silang makikitang katiwalian, ire-report nila. Ire-report nila and file the proper cases in court or with our office," he added.

The LTFRB set a hearing on the fare hike petition in March.

As expected, the UV Express operators' request did not sit well with commuters.

"Maraming commuters so dapat laging pabor sa commuter. Kung doble agad parang hindi naman siya makakatulong sa nagko-commute," one passenger interviewed in the report said.

"Lugi na. Para ka nang nag-taxi noon. Kasi sa UV, siksikan na nga tapos dodoblehin mo pa? Perwisyo 'yun sa mga commuter," said another. —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News

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