By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Stressing that there is no basis to increase the minimum fare of jeepneys to P50 due to the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) on Sunday said that in the past six years, the minimum fare only rose from P9 to P13 for traditional jeepneys, and P11 to P15 for modern jeepneys.
“Sa mga nagsasabing aangat ng P30, P40, P50, I think let us all be sensitive sa sitwasyon. This is a very hot issue, napaka-kontrobersyal ng ganong pananalita. I think it’s just right that we do not give statements na walang basehan at nakakasama,” OTC chairman Andy Ortega quipped in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
Last January 3, commuters’ group PARA-Advocates for Inclusive Transport (AIT) convenor Edrich Samonte warned about the possibility of an increase of minimum fare up to P50 following the implementation of the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
“Meron tayong malaking cost ng modernization. Hindi lang ito yung unit, kasama rito yung garahe, fees sa paggagawa ng coop, pagha-hire ng mekaniko at marami pang iba,” Samonte said.
He pointed out that modernization has a huge financial burden for operators and drivers.
“Ang basis po natin sa pagtaas ng pamasahe dahil kailangan pong magbayad ng operator ng utang. ‘Yung driver po kailangang kumita ng sapat para may mapangkain,” Samonte explained.
However, the OTC strongly disagreed with the commuters’ group.
“Wala kaming nakikitang basehan na after five years, magiging P50. That is unfair. Walang basis,” Ortega maintained.
(el Amigo/MNM)
