Transport groups seek P2 fare hike, mull strike amid oil price hike

Transport groups are seeking a P2 fare hike and considering holding a nationwide strike amid the rising prices of fuel due to the tension between the United States and Iran.

In an interview with Unang Balita, MANIBELA chaiperson Mar Valbuena said a P1 fare increase would not be enough.

"At least sana P2 kasi nga 'yung losses pa namin noong Marso hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin kami nakaka-recover dito. Kaya sana mapagbigyan tayo ng ating Pangulo. Kung hindi sana ito binawi noong nakaraan ay okay na sana ang piso," he said.

(We want a P2 increase because we have yet to recover our losses since March. We hope the President will approve it; if they pushed through with the scheduled fare increase months ago, a P1 hike would be enough now.)

"Kaya lang napakalaki pa rin ng hinahabol nating nawalang kita ng ating mga kasamahan. Kung titingnan natin, 100% na ang itinaas nito. 'Yung hiniling po natin na piso noon, pre-war era pa ito, noong hindi pa po sumiklab ang gera at hindi naibigay sa atin ito. Ngayon na bibigyan tayo ng piso pa rin, panahon pa ito noong wala pang gera," he added.

(Our fellow drivers are yet to recover their lost income. The value of the P1 we requested before has increased 100%. We requested it before the tension in the Middle East happened and it was not given to us.)

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, ACTO president Libay de Luna also stressed the need to increase the minimum fare.

"Ang reaksiyon ko rito ay kailangan magtaas na ng pamasahe. Ibigay na nila ‘yung aming hinihinging pagtaas ng pamasahe at kung may ibibigay pa silang ayuda sa amin eh sana matanggap na po naming lahat ulit," she said.

(My reaction to this is there should be a fare hike. They should give us the fare hike we requested and if they could provide other assistance, I hope all of us will be able to receive it.)

"Kahit ₱1 o ₱2 malaking tulong na ito sa akyat-panaog ng atin mga pasahero, malaking tulong na ito sa hanay ng transport sector," she added.

(A P1 or P2 fare increase would be a big help to the transport sector.)

De Luna said the fare hike would add around P150 to P200 to the take home pay of the drivers.

Both Valbuena and De Luna said they would hold a transport strike if the increase in oil prices would continue.

"Pinag-iisipan pa po namin kung anong araw ito dahil sa pagsirit ng presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo, unti unti na namang aabot sa P100 na hindi natin namamalayan dahil sa kaliwa't kanang issue ng ating bayan. Masyado tayong pinagsasamantalahan ng mga oil companies at kasabwat itong Department of Energy sa pagsasamantala ng mga oil companies na ito," said Valbuena.

(We are still thinking when will we conduct the transport strike due to the increase in the price of petroleum products. These prices will reach P100 again without being noticed due to the issues our country is facing. These oil companies are taking advantage of us and the Department of Energy is doing nothing to stop this.)

He said 100,000 drivers and operators nationwide are expected to join the transport strike.

Valbuena said MANIBELA will be meeting with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Tuesday, July 21, to discuss the fare hike.

De Luna, for her part, said they are still monitoring the situation and if the oil prices will continue increasing, they would also hold a transport strike.

'Strike does not help'

In an interview on Balitanghali, the transport group Pasang Masda stated that they view the transport strike as not helpful and something that will only burden the livelihoods of drivers and commuters.

“Alam po ninyo sa aking pananaw, iba-iba ho kami ng pananaw, ang welga po eh hindi naman talagang sa akin… Hindi po ito makakakatulong, kundi makakapagpabigat pa ito sa ating hanapbuhay at sa buhay ng ating mga tsuper,” Pasang Masda President Obet Martin said.

(In my opinion—and we all have different views—a strike doesn't really... It will not help. Instead, it will only worsen the situation for our livelihoods and the lives of our drivers.)

According to Martin, Pasang Masda, along with other transport groups Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) and Busina, wrote to the Office of the President two weeks ago to request the lifting of the suspension on fare increases, but they have yet to receive a response.

Martin added that they acknowledge a fare hike alone will not suffice given the rising oil prices; therefore, they are demanding a P10 discount per liter of fuel.

“‘Yun po ang aming hinihiling, i-nationwide yung 10 pesos na discount, ay malaking tulong na po sa aming hanay yan at aprubahan ang aming pisong pamasahe ay makakatulong-tulong po yan,” Martin said.

(That is what we are requesting—to implement the P10 discount nationwide. That would be a huge help to our sector, and approving our one-peso fare increase will add even more support.)

He noted that the P10 discount should be implemented by selected outlets of major oil companies like Petron, Shell, Caltex, and small suppliers nationwide so that those in the provinces can also benefit.
—with a report from Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/AOL/RF, GMA News