MANILA, Philippines – Sinimulan na ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ang konsultasyon sa transport network vehicle service (TNVS) companies kaugnay ng panukalang fare hike at iba pang isyu ng mga driver at operator.
Ayon kay LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza II, ito ang unang hakbang sa serye ng konsultasyon na iniutos ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. upang tiyakin ang kapakanan ng sektor ng public transport.
“We want to hear all sides in the spirit of fairness because the discussion on fare increase is a sensitive issue that does not only involve the commuters but our economy as well,” ani Mendoza.
Hiniling niya sa mga TNVS stakeholders na magsumite ng mga kinakailangang dokumento upang matukoy kung makatwiran ang fare increase.
“We really hope that they will comply because if they do not, that makes it complicated for us because we will be relying solely on our own data,” dagdag niya.
Kabilang sa mga isyung tinalakay ang komisyon ng mga driver at operator at ang mahahabang oras ng kanilang trabaho. Sinabi ni Mendoza na ang ilang usapin ay ipapasa sa ibang ahensya tulad ng Department of Labor and Employment at Office of the Solicitor General.
“Our goal is to come up with a decision that is acceptable to everybody. If there would be fare increase, we assure that there will be a balance between the commuters’ capacity to pay and the need to attend to the concerns of those in the public transport sector,” ani Mendoza.
Magkakaroon din ng public consultations ang LTFRB kasama ang bus, taxi, at jeepney groups. Ayon kay Mendoza, ilang fare hike petitions na ang naihain mula nang aprubahan ang PHP1 provisional fare increase noong 2023, dulot ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis. Santi Celario
