By CESAR JOLITO III
Several transport groups in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have announced that they have no plans to increase fares or stage a transport strike despite the continued rise in petroleum prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East.
Leaders of local transport organizations said operators and drivers agreed to maintain the current fare rates to avoid adding further burden to commuters who are already struggling with rising living costs.
In an interview, Bacolod Alliance of Commuters Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD-Manibela) President Rudy Catedral said transport operators recently held a meeting where they decided not to push for a fare increase for now.
According to Catedral, raising fares at this time would not solve the problem and would only place additional pressure on the commuting public.
Instead, transport groups are appealing for government support, particularly from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and are also calling on local government units to extend assistance to drivers and operators who are struggling with the rising cost of fuel.
Meanwhile, Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition (KNETCO) President Lilian Sembrano said their group has also not filed any petition for a fare hike despite the difficult situation faced by many drivers.
Sembrano noted that even the existing minimum jeepney fare of P11 to P13 is not consistently followed, as many passengers — especially those riding traditional jeepneys — still pay only P10.
Because of this, some drivers are already experiencing reduced income while continuing to cope with higher fuel expenses.
Transport leaders expressed hope that both the national government and local governments will provide fuel subsidies or financial assistance to help sustain public transport operations while fuel prices remain volatile.
LTFRB-NIR: Fuel subsidy for rollout
A fuel subsidy program for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers is expected to be rolled out soon as the government finalizes guidelines for its implementation, according to LTFRB in the Negros Island Region (NIR).
LTFRB-NIR Regional Director Gerry Llena said they are currently waiting for the official guidelines from the national government for the distribution of the subsidy aimed at helping transport workers cope with rising fuel prices amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The subsidy forms part of the government’s fuel assistance program for the transport sector, which has a total allocation of P2.5 billion, according to LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza.
Of the total amount, around P1.3 billion is earmarked for vehicles franchised under LTFRB.
About 256,000 PUV operators and drivers nationwide — including those operating jeepneys, UV Express units, taxis, and transport network vehicle services (TNVS) — are expected to benefit from the program.
Under the proposed allocation, operators of modern public utility jeepneys may receive around P10,500 each, while drivers of traditional jeepneys are expected to receive about P5,000, depending on the final distribution.
Llena said the subsidy will be released to qualified beneficiaries through cards issued by the Land Bank of the Philippines, which can be used at partner fuel stations.
The LTFRB-NIR is also coordinating with the bank for the proper distribution of the cards to ensure that the subsidy reaches registered operators and drivers included in the official list.
While the national government subsidy is expected to provide immediate relief, Llena is also encouraging local government units in the region to consider granting additional fuel assistance to PUV drivers should fuel prices continue to increase.
The proposal was raised during a meeting with local government officials from Negros Oriental held in Dumaguete City, where several mayors expressed openness to the idea, including Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda./CJ, WDJ