TACLOBAN CITY– Every increase in the price of fuel means another challenge in making ends meet for public transport drivers and operators in Eastern Visayas.
With fuel prices continuing to rise, transport groups have been appealing for a fare adjustment to help them cope with higher operating costs and protect their livelihood.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Eastern Visayas (LTFRB-8) said the recently approved fare hike comes at a timely period, providing transport groups with additional support as they face mounting fuel expenses.
LTFRB-8 Regional Director Gualberto Gualberto said the adjustment would help drivers and operators tide over the continued increases in fuel prices and other costs involved in keeping their vehicles on the road.
“Government support can only go as far. With the fuel prices’ volatility, we see this fare hike as very timely. I am sure our commuters would also understand,” Gualberto said,
For transport groups in Leyte, the fare hike is more than an adjustment in the amount collected from passengers. They see it as a response to the daily realities of keeping public transportation services running.
Public transport and operators in Leyte such as the CATADOTCO, TACATRANSCO and RELTRANSCO welcome the fare adjustment and thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for supporting a measure they say will help ease the impact of rising fuel and operations cost.
“This is a big help to us drivers and operators. Since the increase in fuel prices, it has never recovered. Fortunately, the government’s assistance has helped us through somehow” says CATADOTCO chairman Andres Castro.
The transport groups said the additional income could provide some relief to drivers and operators whose daily earnings are affected whenever fuel prices go up.
“We are very grateful to President BBM that our request was finally heard,” says Michael Camiller, head of RELTRANSCO, a transport cooperative.
The groups also acknowledged the need to maintain a balance between the sustainability of their operations and the ability of commuters to afford public transportation.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier approved the recommendation to increase fares for public utility vehicles, citing rising operating costs faced by transport operators and the need to keep public transportation services available and sustainable.
The approval also supports the fare adjustment earlier approved by the LTFRB, as well as provisional fare adjustments for UV Express and taxi services pending the resolution of their respective petitions.
For transport workers, the fare adjustment offers a measure of relief at a time when operating a public utility vehicle has become increasingly costly.
But behind the fare adjustment is a continuing challenge faced by both sides of the road – transport workers trying to sustain their livelihood and commuters trying to stretch their daily budgets.
The LTFRB said the adjustment is intended to help keep public transportation viable while ensuring that drivers and operators can continue serving the commuting public.
The LTFRB also reminded transport operators to observe the approved fare rates and comply with existing regulations in implementing the adjustment.
The agency said the fare adjustment is intended to balance the need of transport operators to cope with rising operating costs while ensuring that public transportation remains accessible to commuters.
(AHLETTE C.REYES, PIA-Leyte)
