NCTU seeks P1-increase in jeepney fares

THE National Confederation of Transport Union is seeking a P1-increase in public jeepney fares throughout northern Mindanao.

NCTU vice chairman for  northern Mindanao  Joel Gabatan said a petition for fare increase is being prepared by his group for submission to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board by January 2018.

The proposed increase would cover for the first five kilometers.

If approved, the minimum jeepney fare would increase from the present P7 to P8 in northern Mindanao.

Gabatan said the NCTU has not sought an increase for every succeeding kilometer.

He said, “50 centavos man karon ang  minimum alang sa succeeding kilometer. Dili na kami mangayo ug increase ana, maintain lang gihapon na.”

Gabatan said the series of increases in fuel prices this year prompted NCTU to decide on seeking a fare increase.

He said jeepney drivers have been complaining that their average net income of P500 a day plunged to only P300 a day as a result of the increased fuel costs.

“Kining P300 nga take home, igo ra gyud tawon kini sa konsomo sa pamilya sa driver kada adlaw. Maglisod nag pang-allowance sa  mga estudyante. Wala nay pangbisti ug  ang lisod pa gyud kon na-ay sakop sa pamilya sa driver nga  magkasakit,” he said.

But another public transportation-based group, the Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Northern Mindanao-Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, has no plans of calling for an increase in jeepney fares.

Starex-Piston Ringo Lago said a fare increase would only hurt the pockets of commuters.

Instead, Lago said, the government should scrap the 12-percent value added tax on petroleum products and repeal the Oil Industry Deregulation Law.

“Kon dili i-abolish sa  gobyerno ang 12-percent VAT sa petroleum products ug Oil Deregulation Law, mag-sigi gyud ug saka ang presyo gasolina,” Lago said. (nitz arancon)