New govt assistance package awaits transport sector

President Benigno Aquino III is set to meet with transport groups again in the coming weeks to present them an assistance package to mitigate effects of the recent oil price increases, his spokesperson said Wednesday.   “The President is inclined to meet with them as soon as plans on how to assist them are finalized,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing.   Lacierda said the meeting has nothing do with the fare hike petition of the transport groups, but the series of oil price increases that drivers and operators of public utility vehicles have been complaining about.   Several transport organizations have filed a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to increase the minimum fare from P8 to P10 for the first four kilometers, and P1.40 to P1.75 for each succeeding kilometer.   “The meeting with the transport group is because of the oil crisis… There is a concern about the oil prices going up so that is something we have to address,” said Lacierda. “We certainly will let them know what our plans are, what those packages would be and we hope to have a discussion with them on that.”   Lacierda, however, could not say what is included in the package and which between the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation and Communications is preparing it.   He further said that Malacañang wants to know the other concerns of the transport groups, even as he said that the government has been able to address the problems earlier aired by the operators and drivers.   Aquino met with transport groups September last year to thresh out their complaints, including high fuel prices and extortion by policemen. During the meeting, Aquino assured the transport sector that the government will review the Oil Deregulation Law, which has been blamed for recent fuel price hikes. - KBK, GMA News