Passengers scramble for a seat in a passenger jeepney while most of the drivers were on strike last Thursday. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
A transport group withdrew its petition for a P2.50 jeepney fare increase during a public hearing at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFR) this morning.
Instead of a fare increase, the Cebu Integrated Transport Services Cooperative Inc. (Citrasco) asked the government to intensify its apprehension of colorum vehicles.
Ryan Yu, Citrasco president said last week’s transport strike which paralyzed 30 percent of Cebu’s public transportation benefited their members as it resulted in a 20 to 30 percent increase in income compared to regular days.
He said he believed that those who participated in the strike against the Department of Transportation and Communications’ Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 were operators and drivers of colorum vehicles.
The order imposes higher fines of P1 million for colorum bus operators; P200,000 for colorum truck and van operators; P120,000 for sedan operators; P50,000 for colorum jeepney operators; and P6,000 for colorum motorcycle operators.
He told LTFRB presiding officer Edwin Antipuesto that their group will first observe the enforcement of the DOTC order in six months.
The public hearing only lasted for 10 minutes as the petitioner withdrew their proposal. Other drivers who supported the fare increase expressed disappointment since they were unable to give their side on the issue.
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