Wanted: Groups to petition reduction of fare rates
The fare rate for public utility vehicles (PUV) would not lower despite the drop in the prices of petroleum products the past weeks.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Regional Director Porferio Clavel said his office has not received any petition for the reduction of fare rates.
The present fare rate is P7.00 for regular passengers and P6.50 for students and senior citizens.
Clavel said LTFRB is a quasi-judicial body and it could not just act on matters without the petition. He said any person that represents the public or the commuters can file a petition for the reduction of fare rates. A pro-forma style of petition is available at the LTFRB's office, he said. Even a single person can file a petition for fare reduction.
In Iloilo or any other parts of the region, the LTFRB has yet to receive any petition for fare reduction. He, however, said there are transport groups here which have allied organizations in Metro Manila that also carry the concerns of the region, Clavel said.
The petitioner should come from the commuters. It is a remote possibility that the stakeholders such as the operators and drivers will file the petition for reduction of fare. Interested parties can either file their petition before the LTFRB office in the region, said Clavel.
He said the petitioner should cite several factors on why there should be a fare reduction. Among those issues which make a petition for fare reduction convincing is the inclusion of previous and current price of gasoline and prices of car spare parts. There should be a comparative data or percentage of increase and reduction of prices of both the gasoline and spare parts.
The drop in petroleum products triggered last week's rollback in premium unleaded gasoline prices between P38.24 and P40.50 a liter; diesel to between P32.77 and P38 a liter; and kerosene to between P36.19 and P41 a liter, inclusive of the 12-percent value-added tax. It is also expected that gasoline prices will go down by as much as P2 a liter this month. However, the reductions are expected to be implemented on a staggered basis.
The petitioner should not only call for a fare reduction by merely citing the recent decrease of oil products. The recent drop in the oil prices is not an automatic ground for an immediate fare reduction. There are other things to be considered before a fare reduction is imposed.
Any petition for fare reduction should be based on data and comparative figures. The petition is properly heard before they could come up with any decision, said Clavel.