THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged the public to report any jeepney driver who refuses to honor the new P7 minimum fare that took effect yesterday so they can be investigated and penalized.
LTFRB 7 Acting Director Rey Elnar made the appeal after receiving reports that some jeepney drivers still collect not only P7.50, which was the previous official rate, but P8 because they would not give the P0.50 change.
Elnar said that once a passenger will file a complaint and submit the jeepney plate number, they will immediately summon the driver as well as the operator who will be both penalized under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-001.
The order was jointly issued by the LTFRB, represented by Chairman Winston Gines; Land Transportation Office (LTO), represented by Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr.; and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), represented by Secretary Antonio Abaya last year.
It provides the penalties for overcharging at P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense and P15,000 plus suspension of the certificate of public convenience (franchise) for the third offense.
Gines said the operators should make sure that their drivers have followed the new fare rate, as they will also be made answerable for the offense of their drivers.
On the other hand, Arthur Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the labor group will file a new petition seeking for a P5 or P6 minimum fare rate because the price of diesel, as of yesterday, was already sold at P25 per liter.
Petition
Barrit said that when former Cebu City councilor Augustus Pe Jr. filed the petition seeking for a P7 minimum jeepney fare, the price of diesel was still P37 per liter.
Barrit said it is but proper for LTFRB to further cut the minimum fare to P5, which was the rate when diesel was at P29 per liter several years ago. The reduction of minimum fare will benefit the workers in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu.
“If that is the case, then I will have to withdraw my petition. What is important is for the common good,” Pe told Sun.Star Cebu when asked for his comment.
Meanwhile, LTO 7 Director Arnel Tancinco said the refusal of the jeepney drivers to give 20 percent discounts to senior citizens, students and person with disabilities (PWDs) is a crime.
Tancinco said the fine as provided for under JAO 2014-001 is P1,000 for the erring driver and a bigger amount of P5,000 for the jeepney operator. - By Elias O. Baquero / SunStar
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Sunday, January 11, 2015
LTFRB - Central Visayas approves 50-cent fare cut
CEBU -- Minimum jeepney fares in Central Visayas will go down to P7 after a new order from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Central Visayas is published.
But two business leaders urged transport operators and LTFRB to consider bringing the minimum fare down to P6, to reflect the continuing drop in fuel prices.
LTFRB Board Member Antonio Enrile Inton Jr. informed Sun.Star Cebu on Sunday that a copy of the order resetting the fare rates will be presented today, January 12.
He urged the LTFRB-Central Visayas and law enforcement agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to implement strictly the discounts for senior citizens and students.
In recent years when the P7.50 provisional minimum fare was implemented, some drivers overcharged by collecting P8 and refusing to grant the mandatory discounts. (The minimum fare covers the first five kilometers.)
Businesswoman Teresa Chan, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said that the minimum fare must be P6.50 -- or P6, if possible -- because the price of diesel is now P28.75 per liter and may further decrease in the next few days.
“We are concerned about this matter because this can help our employees a lot. While P5 may not be feasible, considering the operational costs, we hope our jeepney operators and drivers will help the riding public, the majority of our population who are wage earners, by offering P6,” Chan said.
In a separate interview, spokesperson Art Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said he doesn’t “see the logic of the LTFRB in granting a reduction of only P0.50. It’s an agency that is faster to increase but slower to decrease fares.”
Annabelle dela Serna, regional coordinator of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, said any fare rollback will be much appreciated and help the riding public.
“Considering the continuous rollback in diesel prices, it is but proper to lower also the fare,” Dela Serna said.
Businessman Robert Go, chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (EDC-RDC), said jeepney fares must be lowered to P5 since the price of diesel has gone down to P28.45 and may keep dropping.
The minimum fare was P5 when the price of diesel was P29 per liter several years ago.
“Our inflation was lowest last quarter in years and the prices of basic goods are expected to go down. Seven pesos as minimum fare is still too high and should further go down to at least P6, as a compromise if jeepney operators argue about the prices of spare parts, tires, among others,” Go said.
He said that P6 would be a good compromise. (EOB/Sun.Star Cebu)
But two business leaders urged transport operators and LTFRB to consider bringing the minimum fare down to P6, to reflect the continuing drop in fuel prices.
LTFRB Board Member Antonio Enrile Inton Jr. informed Sun.Star Cebu on Sunday that a copy of the order resetting the fare rates will be presented today, January 12.
He urged the LTFRB-Central Visayas and law enforcement agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to implement strictly the discounts for senior citizens and students.
In recent years when the P7.50 provisional minimum fare was implemented, some drivers overcharged by collecting P8 and refusing to grant the mandatory discounts. (The minimum fare covers the first five kilometers.)
Businesswoman Teresa Chan, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said that the minimum fare must be P6.50 -- or P6, if possible -- because the price of diesel is now P28.75 per liter and may further decrease in the next few days.
“We are concerned about this matter because this can help our employees a lot. While P5 may not be feasible, considering the operational costs, we hope our jeepney operators and drivers will help the riding public, the majority of our population who are wage earners, by offering P6,” Chan said.
In a separate interview, spokesperson Art Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said he doesn’t “see the logic of the LTFRB in granting a reduction of only P0.50. It’s an agency that is faster to increase but slower to decrease fares.”
Annabelle dela Serna, regional coordinator of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, said any fare rollback will be much appreciated and help the riding public.
“Considering the continuous rollback in diesel prices, it is but proper to lower also the fare,” Dela Serna said.
Businessman Robert Go, chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (EDC-RDC), said jeepney fares must be lowered to P5 since the price of diesel has gone down to P28.45 and may keep dropping.
The minimum fare was P5 when the price of diesel was P29 per liter several years ago.
“Our inflation was lowest last quarter in years and the prices of basic goods are expected to go down. Seven pesos as minimum fare is still too high and should further go down to at least P6, as a compromise if jeepney operators argue about the prices of spare parts, tires, among others,” Go said.
He said that P6 would be a good compromise. (EOB/Sun.Star Cebu)
Monday, January 5, 2015
Palace digs in for court battle over train fares
THE Aquino administration said it is ready to defend its decision to increase the fares for Metro Manila’s elevated train systems (LRT Lines 1 and 2 and MRT-3) before the Supreme Court.
This was the Palace reaction after the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Riles Laan sa Sambayanan (RILES) Network and the Train Riders Network (Tren) said they would file a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court today to seek a temporary restraining order against the fare increase.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma also appealed to those who will join the anti-fare hike protests to avoid obstructing commuters.
“We appeal to those who plan to join the protest action to take into consideration the over-all welfare of our citizens and not to obstruct traffic flow and be a nuisance to our commuters,” he said.
“The government respects the right of citizens to express their sentiments on the issue of fare hike in the LRT and MRT, including their reported plan to file a petition before the Supreme Court,” Coloma added.
The Palace official noted that lawmakers have supported the fare adjustment, saying it was an “exercise in political will.”
“Because of the delay in implementing the fare adjustment, previous administrations were not able to buy new coaches and upgrade the facilities of our mass transport systems,” Coloma said.
Members of the leftist youth group Anakbayan led a sit-down protest at the MRT North Avenue station yesterday as the fare hike took effect.
“No sane president will want to unjustly burden his people like this,” Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said.
“The Aquino administration should be held accountable for approving these fare hikes despite the deteriorating state of our train lines and despite the fact that Filipinos cannot cope with these new and higher fares given the current economic situation,” he added.
MRT-3 fares increased from P15 to P28 for the 17-kilometer stretch from North Avenue Station in Quezon City to Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City.
For LRT-1 from Baclaran Station in Paranaque to Roosevelt Station in Quezon City, the maximum single journey fare increased to P30 while the fare for LRT-2 from Rizal Avenue Station in Manila to Santolan Staion in Pasig rose to P25.
“Not only is this fare hike a bad way to start the year, it is truly detestable, given that the current state of our train systems is far from being agreeable. President Aquino and his Cabinet are out of their minds if they think that the riding public will take these fare hikes lightly,” Crisostomo said.
In a radio interview Sunday, Senator Grace Poe attacked the LRT and MRT management for imposing a fare hike amid the deteriorating services to commuters.
She also slammed the authorities for imposing the hike on a weekend when there were no courts that could stop them.
“They have not been forthcoming about this,” Poe said.
Poe, a member of the Senate public services committee investigating the woes of train riders, said they would summon Abaya and officials of the Budget Department to answer questions about the fare hike.
The hearings would begin after the visit of Pope Francis, she added.
Also on Sunday, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said it would join a big labor coalition to support the RILES Network today to protest the fare hikes.
Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesperson, said the Nagkaisa Coalition, composed of 49 labor groups and workers’ organizations, is calling on Abaya to consider the welfare of the workers and to stop the rate increase.
The working poor will become poorer with the fare hike, he added. – By Joyce Pangco Panares With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja
This was the Palace reaction after the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Riles Laan sa Sambayanan (RILES) Network and the Train Riders Network (Tren) said they would file a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court today to seek a temporary restraining order against the fare increase.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma also appealed to those who will join the anti-fare hike protests to avoid obstructing commuters.
“We appeal to those who plan to join the protest action to take into consideration the over-all welfare of our citizens and not to obstruct traffic flow and be a nuisance to our commuters,” he said.
“The government respects the right of citizens to express their sentiments on the issue of fare hike in the LRT and MRT, including their reported plan to file a petition before the Supreme Court,” Coloma added.
The Palace official noted that lawmakers have supported the fare adjustment, saying it was an “exercise in political will.”
“Because of the delay in implementing the fare adjustment, previous administrations were not able to buy new coaches and upgrade the facilities of our mass transport systems,” Coloma said.
Members of the leftist youth group Anakbayan led a sit-down protest at the MRT North Avenue station yesterday as the fare hike took effect.
“No sane president will want to unjustly burden his people like this,” Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said.
“The Aquino administration should be held accountable for approving these fare hikes despite the deteriorating state of our train lines and despite the fact that Filipinos cannot cope with these new and higher fares given the current economic situation,” he added.
MRT-3 fares increased from P15 to P28 for the 17-kilometer stretch from North Avenue Station in Quezon City to Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City.
For LRT-1 from Baclaran Station in Paranaque to Roosevelt Station in Quezon City, the maximum single journey fare increased to P30 while the fare for LRT-2 from Rizal Avenue Station in Manila to Santolan Staion in Pasig rose to P25.
“Not only is this fare hike a bad way to start the year, it is truly detestable, given that the current state of our train systems is far from being agreeable. President Aquino and his Cabinet are out of their minds if they think that the riding public will take these fare hikes lightly,” Crisostomo said.
In a radio interview Sunday, Senator Grace Poe attacked the LRT and MRT management for imposing a fare hike amid the deteriorating services to commuters.
She also slammed the authorities for imposing the hike on a weekend when there were no courts that could stop them.
“They have not been forthcoming about this,” Poe said.
Poe, a member of the Senate public services committee investigating the woes of train riders, said they would summon Abaya and officials of the Budget Department to answer questions about the fare hike.
The hearings would begin after the visit of Pope Francis, she added.
Also on Sunday, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said it would join a big labor coalition to support the RILES Network today to protest the fare hikes.
Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesperson, said the Nagkaisa Coalition, composed of 49 labor groups and workers’ organizations, is calling on Abaya to consider the welfare of the workers and to stop the rate increase.
The working poor will become poorer with the fare hike, he added. – By Joyce Pangco Panares With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja
#MRTprotest - Protesters vs MRT-LRT fare hike go full blast, to file TRO at Supreme Court today
MANILA - Protesters against the fare hike at the Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit train lines on Monday went full blast in their protest actions, including going to the Supreme Court to file a petition against the fare hike.
“Today we fight back,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), which is spearheading the protests, in a statement.
Protest actions are planned at various MRT stations. Partido Manggagawa (PM), Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) will lead the protest at Pasay-Taft station, while Sentro and other members of the labor coalition Nagkaisa! will take the North Avenue (Trinoma) Station, and the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) will have its protest action at the Cubao Station.
Tagging the fare hike as “Aquino’s Great Train Robbery,” Bayan called on commuters and taxpayers to “resolutely oppose” the fare increases for the MRT3, and the LRT 1 and 2 train lines.
“These added burdens, treacherously announced and implemented during the holidays, are without legal basis and are patently anti-commuter. These increases merely serve the profit interests of the private stakeholders in the train system while justifying government’s abandonment of its responsibility to provide affordable and efficient mass transportation for the people,” Bayan said.
The multisectoral group said the 50% to 87% fare hike will take P2.1 billion from at least 1.3 million commuters who use the three train lines every day.
“Today and in the coming days, we will stage mass protest actions to air the people’s outrage over the unjust fare increases. Today, we file a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court seeking a stop to the fare hike,” it said.
A broad array of groups and individuals united to challenge the fare hike before the High Court and seek a temporary restraining order.
Petitioners include Bayan, represented by its secretary general Renato Reyes Jr., activist and former lawmaker Teodoro Casiño, former LRT Administration chief Melquiades A. Robles, Kilusang Mayo Uno chair Elmer C. Labog,
RILES Network spokesman Sammy T. Malunes, Courage chairman Ferdinand R. Gaite, Anakbayan chair Vencer Crisostomo, Alliance of Health Workers president Jossel I. Ebesate, Kadamay chair Gloria G. Arellano, businessman Herman Tiu Laurel, Myrleon E.Peralta,
SSS union president Amorsolo L. Competente, commuter advocate Elvira Y. Medina, commuters Maria Donna Grey Miranda and Angelo Villanueva Suarez of Tren, labor leaders Atty. Jose Sonny G. Matula of the FFW and David L. Diwa of National Labor Union, journalist James Bernard E. Relativo of TREN and Giovanni A. Tapang of Agham.
“The fare hike is without legal basis. The DOTC and its secretary cannot be the fare hike proponent, approving body, and implementor all at the same time. The fare hike cannot be valid without a proper public hearing where the proponents present all the bases for the fare hike and the public is given the opportunity to oppose it,” the group said.
The protesters said the fare hike only seeks to benefit the private stakeholders of the train system.
“It has nothing to do the improving the services of the trains. Congress already appropriated some P9.3 billion for the improvement and rehabilitation of the train system. Why increase fares when Congress has already allocated increased budget?” it said, quoting Senator Francis Escudero, head of the Senate finance committee.
The group explained that the fare increase is due to the privatization scheme being upheld and implemented by the Aquino government.
“The MRT 3’s Build-Lease-Transfer Agreement entered into under the Ramos government had guaranteed the private stakeholders of MRTC a 15% return on investment. This is where the bulk of government subsidy goes, to ensuring the profits of private companies,” the group said.
“It is the same case with LRT 1 whose operations have been privatized in favor of the Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific. They are now entitled to collect and utilize the fares as a part of a P65 billion privatization deal. The LRT2 is also up for privatization and the same will apply,” it added.
The Aquino government has so far guaranteed the profits of a few while guaranteeing the misery of millions of low and middle-income commuters who depend on the train, it said. Aquino invokes the neo-liberal notion of “users-pay” where the public is forced to spend more while government cuts back on subsidy.
“It is time to stop this unjust fare hike dead on its tracks. It is time to put the brakes on the privatization of the train lines. We will not be run over by a callous and anti-commuter regime,” the group said. - - InterAksyon.com
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