Drivers defer plan to ask for P1 fare hike
Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada) has deferred its plan to ask for a one peso increase in fare rates of public utility jeepneys (PUJs).
Icada president Nicasio Dalisay said the decision was reached after the meeting of different association presidents last Wednesday.
Dalisay said the majority of association presidents under Icada preferred not to push through with the plan to raise the fare by 1-peso as it would cause additional burden among commuters.
Presently, regular fare is pegged at P7.00 for the first five kilometers while students and senior citizens are charged P6.50.
The present fare rate has been in effect since August 2005.
Dalisay, however, said that if the prices of fuel continue to rise they might be forced to ask for a fare hike in the future.
Prices of fuel have increased several times since the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) last approved their petition for new fare rate.
He lamented that fuel prices keep on increasing while the government has not done something about it.
Dalisay said, jeepney drivers can hardly survive based on the present rate but they can do nothing since raising the fare rate could affect the public.
He admitted that even their families also ride on jeepneys everyday.
"Even our families will suffer if the fare is raised to P8.00," Dalisay said.
Nevertheless, Dalisay said, their group will express their sentiment against the continuous increase in prices of fuel through the posting of leaflets in their jeepney units and in other forms of protest.
They may also hold transport strike in the future if the situation worsens, he said.