By Paulo Loreto Lim

United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) Secretary General Diego Malacad stated, yesterday, his group is requesting the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Region VI (LTFRB-6) implement a fare of P7.50, despite choosing not to attend a public hearing conducted by the agency earlier this month.
“We did not attend the public hearing because we do not recognize the regional director,” he said.
Malacad said the proposal to increase fares from P6.50 to P7 is “below the tariff paid for the provisional increase of P7.50 when the price of fuel increased about a year ago.”
Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), Malacad added, is planning to push for an P8.50 fare if the proposed excise tax on petroleum products pushes through.
He said a position paper will be released shortly.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the LTFRB-6 was finalizing show cause orders, which were to be issued to public utility vehicle (PUV) operators who participated in the nationwide transport strike last February 27.
According to LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2011-004, Section 3, “An operator of a public utility vehicle (PUV) shall not resort to any cessation of service as a sign of demonstration of protest or committing acts prejudicial to the riding public like paralyzing transport services.”
Following the demonstration, Malacad boasted about the event, claiming to have crippled around 98 percent of the city’s public transportation grid./WDJ