Bus operators’ group urges review of DOTr’s modernization program

At least 26,000 workers have been affected by the bus transportation system implemented by the government and the rising fuel costs, a representative of a bus operators' group told a Senate panel Tuesday.

Alex Yague of  Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas, Inc. disclosed this in briefing conducted by the Senate Committee on Energy led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on the effects of the Ukraine invasion on the downstream oil sector.

Similar to other public utility vehicle sectors, Yague said 30 percent of the provincial buses are allowed to operate in Metro Manila.

In Luzon, Yague said around 10,000 buses are operating of which only 8,000 were allowed to go inside the National Capital Region.

"Pag tinignan po natin yung pumapasok ng Metro Manila na more or less 8,000, ang affected po diyan, kung 30 percent po. Mga 5,600 buses ang affected, ‘di ho tumatakbo," Yague told the Senate panel.

He said the bus operations manpower is composed of drivers, conductors, ticket sellers, dispatchers, and mechanics.

"So meron ho kaming mga 4 to 5 employees per bus na kailangan po naming i-maintain. So, we're talking of about…around 26,000 to 28,000 employees ang affected," he stated.

With the current increase in fuel prices which also affect the revenues of bus operators, Yague suggested to the committee to institute non-revenue measures so they can still earn even though they do not impose fare hikes to the commuting public.

Yague said the last fare hike in buses was in 2018.

Apart from the rising fuel cost, the bus operators are also concerned about their toll expenses, the hourly minimum wage of their employees, as well as their benefits, the maintenance of their vehicles and the charges for the registration of their buses.

Yague said they are still obliged to register their buses with the Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchise Board even though not all their vehicles are used for operations.

"Ano po ang solution? Kulang fare increase. Ang pinakamadali pong gawin at sana po mapag-aralan po ng ating LTFRB at saka DOTr, yung non-revenue na solution," he said.

An example of non-revenue solution that he was referring to is to allow them to use their own terminals inside NCR.

He raised that they were obliged to use the integrated terminals established by the Department of Transportation but their garage is too far away from these central stations. Thus, incurring income losses on their part.

"Ang garahe po ng provincial bus sector, malayo po doon sa mga designated na integrated terminal. So, pagdating po namin sa integrated terminal, nagkakaroon po kami ng non-revenue kilometers, pupunta po kami sa garahe namin para ayusin yung bus, linisin yung bus, at babalik kami sa integrated terminal para magsakay naman ng mga pasahero," he said.

Also, Yague asked to review the fees being imposed against them such as the registration fee, supervision fee, insurance premium, among others.

"Kahit na 30 percent lang po ang ginagamit namin bus, 'yung 100 percent ng aming mga fleet, kailangan po namin irehistro. Kailangang magbayad kami ng supervision fee, ng insurance premium para continuous po naming mabuhay yung prangkisa," he said.

Further, Yague called on the Congress to review the DOTr's modernization program as their buses which are already in their possession for 15 years will no longer be allowed to be used for public transportation.

He said they were not able to use these PUVs due to the pandemic.

"Nagkaroon po tayo ng pandemic, dalawang taon nating 'di nagamit ang bus. Ngayon po nagbigay ng palugit ang LTFRB, 'yung 2007 na mga bus pwede namin marehistro ng another two years, baka po pwedeng ma-review natin ang programa, instead po na by age ang ating basis ng phase out, road worthiness na po ang gawin natin," he suggested.

According to him, this is a "win-win" solution to the bus operators and the commuters as reducing the cost of their operations would mean they will not seek a fare hike from the LTFRB.

"Baka pwede pong ma-reduce yung cost of operation at hindi masyadong apektado yung ating mga kababayan dahil hindi naman malaki yung hihingin nating fare increase para mag-survive lang po ang bus industry," he said. —NB, GMA News