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Bautista says LTFRB to 'carefully' study proposed rush hour fare charge
By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA NewsTransportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Wednesday the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would carefully study the call of transport groups to charge an additional P1 to P2 to commuters during rush hour.
"Actually, pag-aaralang mabuti 'yan ng LTFRB. Although we acknowledge talaga na medyo nahihirapan 'yung ating mga drivers because of fuel price increase. Pero dapat i-balance kasi natin 'yung effect para sa ating mga pasahero. Kaya pag-aaralang mabuti 'yan ng LTFRB," Bautista told reporters at the sidelines of the Philippine Coast Guard 121st founding anniversary.
(The LTFRB will carefully study that. Although we acknowledge the hardships of our drivers because of fuel price increase, we also need to balance its effect on commuters.)
"I think it's a logical request kasi naman totoo naman talaga na tumataas 'yung kanilang operations [it's true that the cost of their operations has increased]," he added.
Pasang Masda, the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) have filed a petition before the LTFRB asking it to allow traditional and modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) to charge an additional P1.00, and public utility buses (PUBs) an additional P2.00 during rush hour periods of 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., except on Sundays and national holidays.
The additional rates the groups are asking are on top of the respective approved minimum fares.
Last September, the LTFRB approved a P1.00 provisional increase
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In filing the petition, the groups said the recent provisional increases, while helpful, were "not enough to alleviate the woes of public utility vehicle operators in the face of further fuel price hikes, higher operational costs caused by inflation, and also due to rush congestion in the city.”
Bautista was also asked if there was a possibility that the "Libreng Sakay" would continue.
He reiterated that while there is no fund allocated for the program under the DOTr's proposed P171.1-billion budget for next year, lawmakers have expressed support for the continuation of free rides.
"Wala sa budget natin 'yan, doon sa sinubmit namin sa Congress although maraming mambabatas natin na sinasabi nila they will support it daw. Hopefully, baka naman pag pinasa 'yung budget natin, 'yung Kongreso natin ay magbigay ng isang amount para doon," Bautista said.
(It's not included in the budget that was submitted to Congress, although a lot of lawmakers have said they will support the program. Hopefully, if the budget is passed, a certain amount will be given to Libreng Sakay.) —KBK/VBL, GMA News