Transport group wants fare hike

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

Officials of a transport group wants the city ordinance No. 11670 – 2010, which regulates fare matrix of motorela units in the city, amended.

Victor Deloy, president of First Cagayan de Oro Transport Workers Association (FCOTWA) said they had already filed a petition before the Committee on Public Utilities chaired by City Councilor Teodulfo Lao, Jr. to amend the motorela fare matrix ordinance of the city.

“The fare matrix bracketing is no longer applicable to the present,” Deloy said.

He reasoned that despite having experienced lower prices of petroleum products, the prices of basic commodities are still high.

“Gasolina ra man ang mi-ubos pero ang palaliton nagpabilin nga mahal. Apiki na gyud kaayo,” Deloy lamented.

Deloy said their petition to amend the ordinance was already tackled by the City Council Committee on Public Utilities but claimed the fare matrix has not been adjusted.

Based on the fare matrix on City Ordinance No. 11670-2010, which was enacted on March 23, 2010, the minimum fare is pegged at P5 while the student privilege, persons with disability, and senior citizens pay P4. Under the same matrix, elementary students pay P2 within the city limits.

However this fare matrix, Deloy said is predicated on the assumption that gasoline is priced at P32 per liter.

“Sa atong fare matrix bracketing sobra kaayo ka barato sa pletihan apan ang maintenance og presyo sa spare parts wala kini mikanaug,” Deloy claimed.

Lao, for his part, said they acknowledge the proposed amendment by the transport sector but they still need the input from other stakeholders.

He said they still need the opinion coming from the officials of the National Police Traffic Division;  Roads and Traffic Administration, and other transport sectors who has experience on the implementation of the fare matrix ordinance.