CEBU, Philippines — “We are sad, disappointed. Kulang ang kasing-kasing ang atong gobyerno,” said Ryan Benjamin Yu, general manager and president of Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO MPC).
This was Yu’s reaction on the latest resolution of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) denying the petition for a provisional fare increase of P1 for the first four kilometers.
Petitioners 1-UTAK, PASANG MASDA, ALTODAP, and ACTO asked for the provisional increase pending resolution of their main case that seeks to increase to P14 the P9 minimum fare.
Another petitioner, LTOP is seeking for a P6 increase in base fare. Its petition is set to be heard anew on March 22, 2022.
The LTFRB said the petitioners are expected to furnish the Board with supporting evidence required of them in support of the allegations in their petition.
Filing the petition with 1-UTAK (1-United Transport Koalisyon) were Cebu-based CITRASCO, the Visayas United Drivers Tranport and Multi-Purpose Cooperative (VUDTRASCO), Talisay Minglanilla Naga San Fernando Carcar Transport Cooperative (TMNSCTC), Mauswagon Transport Cooperative, Mactan Lapu-Lapu Mandaue Transport Cooperative (MLMTC), and Mandaue Sabang Danao Multicab Operators and Drivers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MASADAMOD MPC).
LTFRB said it has to balance the rights of the operators to financial returns against the rights of the riding public that is mostly dependent on the public transport system.
The Board said that while it recognizes the clamor of stakeholders in public land transportation services for necessary action relative to fare rates, it cannot be insensitive to the plight of Filipinos every time an increase on the prices of the commodities occur, as a domino effect to the grant of fare increase.
NEDA Stand
LTFRB also cited the position of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that proposing a fare increase would fuel further inflammatory expectations when these costs are transferred to consumers, as high cost of transportation expenses will reduce the purchasing power of the general public.
NEDA stated that any petition for fare adjustment, permanent or provisional, is a matter of paramount public importance as it will create an accelerated increase on the prices of basic commodities and services.
Noting the NEDA position, the LTFRB stressed that it is mindful of the present economic state of Filipinos brought about by the continuous rise of oil prices in the world market coupled by the reeling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cushion
LTFRB also cited the Fuel Subsidy Program and the Service Contracting Program that the government has put in place to cushion the effects of present challenges.
The aim of the fuel subsidy program is to cover the net incremental increase in fuel prices for Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs).
LTFRB has started crediting fuel subsidies at P6,500 for PUVs and will continue distributing subsidies until the end of March to 377,433 beneficiaries.
As of this writing, around P700 million has been disbursed to PUVs, including PUJs, from the P2.5 billion budget.
On the other hand, the Service Contracting Program, which has a budget of P7 billion, is set to commence next week once DBM will release the funds.
Both programs are expected to counter the additional cost of PUV operations and avoid the unequitable transfer of such additional cost to the riding public and thereby safeguard the operating capacity of the transportation industry for an extended period of time to insulate any speculative, negative impact on our economy which will adversely all Filipinos, LTFRB said.
Wage
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is expected to file its wage hike petition today, March 21, 2022, to increase the wages of minimum earners in Central Visayas.
TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said they will announce the amount they will ask today before they will file the petition before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-7.
RTWPB-7 has scheduled a wage consultation afternoon on March 22, 2022 at Ecotech in Cebu City.
Vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente Sotto III also believes wages in the private sector in Metro Manila should also be increased amid the continuous surge of prices of petroleum products.
In an interview during their campaign sortie in Tuguegarao City, Sotto said the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila should be pegged at P1,000 so that workers can cope with the price increases of basic products triggered by the rise in oil prices.
“If it were up to me, in these trying times, dapat ang minimum wage is (the minimum wage should be) P1,000,” Sotto said.
Sotto made the pitch after TUCP filed a petition for a P470 increase in the minimum wage of workers in the National Capital Region.
The current minimum wage in Metro Manila is P537. The National Wage and Productivity Commission’s records showed Metro Manila’s minimum wage was last increased on October 30, 2018.
The TUCP made the appeal a day before the prices of petroleum products increased anew– P12.20 to P12.30 per liter for diesel, and P6.80 to P7.10 per liter for gasoline.
Sotto said a P1,000 daily minimum wage for Metro Manila workers can help workers adjust to the adverse impact of oil price increases brought about by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.- JMO (FREEMAN)