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[av_heading heading=’DRIVERS PRESS P1 FARE HIKE
High oil prices, traffic jams hurt drivers’ income ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) wants the current fare increased by P1, citing the recent surges in the prices of fuel.
The current minimum jeepney fare is P6.50 for regular passengers and P5 for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
“Grabe pagtaas sang presyo ilabi na gid sang diesel,” ICLAJODA president Raymundo Parcon told Panay News.
On Oct. 5, a liter of diesel cost P25.70; premium gasoline was P41.22 per liter while unleaded gasoline was P40. 65 per liter.
On Oct. 12, the price of diesel increased to P27.25 per liter. The premium gasoline was P42.07 per liter while unleaded gasoline was P41. 50 per liter.
Parcon said the fuel price hikes were compounded by the increases in the prices of basic commodities.
“Drivers are feeling the pinch. They rent a jeepney for P500 each day and spend around P700 more for the fuel,” said Parcon.
A jeepney drivers averages just a little over P1,000 for a day’s work, he revealed.
“Perdi gid katama. Wala ka na balunon pauli,” said Parcon.
Making matters worse was the traffic congestion, he added.
“Ano na lang mabilin sa drivers naton?” Parcon asked.
The seemingly never-ending rehabilitation of roads across the city is also taking a toll on the daily income of public utility jeepneys, he lamented.
The traffic congestion brought about by the repairs dramatically reduced the jeepney drivers’ number of trips, said Parcon.
The lesser number of trips means lesser income for drivers.
“We used to make 10 trips a day. Now, it’s down to seven or even five trips due to the traffic congestion,” Parcon told Panay News.
Before submitting a formal fare hike petition, however, ICLAJODA officials will first confer with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 6 director Romulo Bernardes this Nov. 5, said Parcon.
The Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers’ Associations, on the other hand, will not be filing a fare hike petition.
According to its president Nick Dalisay, Bernardes previously promised them that if the price of diesel reaches P30, the jeepney fare will automatically be increased./PN
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