By Paulo Loreto Lim

Transport groups, the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) and Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTONE), are demanding fare hikes, citing rising fuel prices.
According to SSTONE Secretary-General Jessie Ortega, they would ultimately like to see fares at P8, up from the current P6.50.
Meanwhile, UNDOC Secretary-General Diego Malacad claimed his group was planning to stage a strike in response to rising fuel prices, but have since shifted to demanding fare hikes.
Malacad, however, is seeking a P7.50 fare.
Ironically, when UNDOC protested the government proposal to do away with obsolete jeepneys, Malacad warned, if the plan went through, fares would rise once public utility vehicles (PUVs) were equipped with engines compliant with Euro 4 emission standards./WDJ