Drivers Charge New Fares – But Not in Negros

Who says drivers are opportunists? Finding the fare hike too much for commuters, a big group of drivers and operators last week decided to charge only reasonable fees even courting possible LTFRB reaction for failing to comply with the latter’s fare matrix.

By Karl G. Ombion
Bulatlat.com/Cobra-ans

BACOLOD CITY - In a special meeting early last week, the council of leaders of the United Negros Drivers and Operations Center (UNDOC) agreed to implement the P1.50 fare rate hike for the first four kilometers, set by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), but rejected the approved P1 charge for every succeeding kilometer. Instead, UNDOC will charge its passengers P0.63 for every additional kilometer, P0.37 centavos lower than the approved rate.

During the first week of implementation of the LTFRB-approved rates, which coincided with the opening of classes, Bulatlat.com and Cobra-ans reporters received several reports of verbal tussles and even fistfights between drivers and commuters because of the fare hike. There were also reports of students in this city, who come from other cities and municipalities, saying that their families cannot afford the fare increase. Some said that they might quit schooling if the new fare hike is not amended.

Thus, the UNDOC decision.

Jesse Ortega, secretary general of UNDOC, an association of drivers and small operators in Negros Occidental, said that the LTFRB rate hike is too much, as it could bring more miseries for the commuters and the general public. Ortega urged other drivers and operators to emulate their example even at the risk of losing their franchises for the sake of commuters.

But Ortega clarified there would still be flexibility in the implementation of its decision on a per driver basis, depending on his social compassion.

For example, for the trip from Bacolod to Sum-ag, a distance of 9.5 kms, drivers will charge P9.65 instead of P11.50, the official LTFRB rate.  From Bacolod to Punta-Taytay, drivers will charge P11.50 instead of P13.50 for the 13.5km trip. 

UNDOC members further agreed that they would accept P9 for the trip to Sum-ag, and P11 to Punta-Taytay from commuters who cannot afford to pay the LTFRB or the UNDOC rate.

Bacolod-La Carlota

Another example is the 43.5-km trip from Bacolod to La Carlota City.  Following the LTFRB computation, the current fare of P15 for the trip will increase to P51. But UNDOC affiliates plying the route agreed to charge only P20 as they understand the difficulties the fare hike will create on commuters and small businesses.  

For other trips outside Bacolod, UNDOC members agreed to follow the LTFRB computation.  But the drivers agreed to be flexible depending on the capacity of commuters to pay and the operating costs and other expenses of drivers and operators.

“We stand by our decision because we believe that it is just, even if the LTFRB would consider this illegal,” Ortega added.

He clarified however that their position is temporary pending approval of the standing petition they filed before the LTFRB. UNDOC, through a petition which they filed in November 2003, is asking for P1 increase for the first 5 kms and an additional P0.63 for every kilometer thereafter.

Arrest threat

The LTFRB threatened to arrest drivers and revoke their licenses and franchises if they will be caught plying their route without a LTFRB fare matrix, and if they undercharge or overcharge commuters. 

UNDOC strongly criticized the LTFRB fare hike rate matrix as excessive and oppressive for the majority of the masses of commuters, Ortega said. He charged that the LTFRB fare hike computation “did not reflect their petition for fare hike, but obviously a product of the long-standing conspiracy between the government, LTFRB bureaucrats, and the big transport capitalists in the national capital region.”

“The fare hike matrix is clearly a bane to the poor drivers and small transport operators, and a boon to the big transport capitalists and racketeers in the government,” he added.

Ortega said that the latest scheme of the LTFRB is another proof that the Macapagal-Arroyo government is not serious in alleviating the plight of the drivers, workers, urban poor, and the poor peasants.

Meanwhile, the Consumers Network in Negros, Bayan-Negros, along with other community organizations, have started to stage weekly pickets and other protest actions in support of the drivers’ petition for lower fare rates, the workers demand for a P125 across the board increase, and the public sector employees’ struggle for a P3,000 across the board wage increase. Bulatlat.com

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