Rethink decision vs Lantin, Palace urged

Bus operators belonging to the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) are appealing to President Arroyo to defer and review her decision to replace Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Dante Lantin with a new appointee from the Presidential Management Staff.

In a letter dated Aug. 29 to the President, PBOAP president Alejandro Yague said there may be important factors in the decision to replace Lantin that may have been overlooked and not taken into account.

One of these factors, Yague said, is the unsteady price of fuel which is causing agitation among transport operators who are finding it difficult to render a sustained and safe service without a fare increase.

According to Yague, the present situation requires "an experienced, competent and honest transport official with whom the transport industry has rapport."

Over the last two years, Lantin has been able to hold back fare increases despite sustained agitation for them by transport operators.

Sources in the bus sector disclosed that Malacañang is removing the wrong LTFRB official.

An operator of a big bus company, who asked not to be named, said that instead of Lantin, another official should instead be the one axed.

The said official has been accused of graft and corruption in letter-complaints to Transportation and Communications Secretary Mendoza and the President.

Another bus firm official said the appointment to the LTO and LTFRB of two new officials from Malacañang may be related to the 2004 presidential elections. Both agencies have a nationwide network of field offices.