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Provincial bus operators ask gov't for assistance, fuel discount
Provincial bus operators asked the government to provide assistance, including a fuel discount and rapid testing of their drivers and conductors, to help them get back on their feet.
“Kung pagbibigyan, bigyan kami ng ayuda na discount sa krudo para at least makabawi kami sa direct cost,” Alex Yague, executive director of the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines, said in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV Monday.
He said they are ready to resume operation but they need the help of the government on some aspects.
“Reading-ready na kami bumyahe, ang aming panawagan sa awtoridad bago bumyahe ang mga provincial bus, ‘yun mga driver, konduktor dapat ma-test na kung pupwede libre,”
Yague said the bus operators are also asking the government to allow them to drop off their passengers up to their terminals in Metro Manila instead of unloading them in Bocaue, Bulacan.
“Kung papayagan na nila ang provincial bus na makapasok sa Metro Manila, ‘wag namang putol-putulin ang byahe. Ang balak nila dyan kung galing ka ng norte ay hanggang Philippine Arena ka na lang sa Bocaue,” he said.
“So ‘yung pasahero kung pupunta ka ng Maynila, bababa ka sa Philippine Arena, sasakay ka bababa ka sa Monumento, pagbaba mo sa Monumento sasakay ka papuntang Makati. Imbes na isang byahe lang, ang gawin nila ay diretso na lang sa terminal para maiwasan ang paghawa hawa at lalo pang mapapaigting ang pagtupad sa protocol,” he added.
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Yague admitted that even if they will be allowed to resume their operation, they will not be able to generate much revenue.
“Kapag 50% ang maximum capacity ng bus e kahit na anong kwentada mo ay hindi talaga kikita. Pero ‘yung mga bus companies nagpupumilit din silang bumyahe para 'yung kanilang driver at konduktor ay may maiuwi ring sahod sa kanilang pamilya,” he said.
“Tatlong buwan na tayong walang biyahe kaya ‘yung mga bus operator nakapagbigay man ng ayuda e hindi pwedeng tuloy tuloy na magbigay ng ayuda dahil walang revenue,” he said.
“Ang importante ay magkaroon ng maiuuwing sahod ‘yung driver at konduktor. Imbes na maglalabas sa bulsa ng operator e ‘yung kita ng bus ‘yan na ang iuuwing sahod, ‘yung byahe na,” he added.
Engr. Alberto Suansing, DOTr road sector senior consultant, said the Inter-Agency Task Force is still studying the resumption of provincial bus operation.
“Depende rin yan sa IATF, hinihintay namin ang IATF kasi may challengers ‘yan pag byahe ng provincial bus from wherever north or south of Metro Manila,” he said in an interview on GMA’s Unang Balita.
“Isang challenge dyan e syempre may bayan bayan na dadaanan yan. Kung may regulasyon sila tungkol pa rin sa health issue ayaw natin na maistorbo sila. Pangalawa, ano ang kailangan ng mga pasahero. kailangang bang mag health certificate mula sa lugar na pinanggalingan nila papuntang Maynila,” he said. —AOL, GMA News