Travelers from Tacloban to Borongan were enraged with the sudden increase in UV Express fare rate. From just over P200 fare, the new tariff is now at P461. More than double of the initial fare. This is after the initial P2/km fare rate was increased to P2.40/km/
Locals feel as if operators were taking advantage of the recent minimum wage hike in the region which added an additional P30 from the previous minimum wage of P375.
“Naningabot man liwat. Paka increase hin P30, mag umento lwat hira hin P200. Ano naman la kami nga manguli unta,” a passenger ranted.
True enough, many passengers feel robbed while operators think that the fare hike has been long overdue.
“An ira base han una prior han increase, han una pa ito. Pira na ka tuig an nag labay. Nag increase na an jeep,” Information Officer Veronica Reposar TDO II of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said in an interview.
Reposar disclosed that a petition had been filed months prior to the increase. This means that timing was purely coincidental.
“Maiha man ito ugsa ma approve. Dida pa ngani ito han May yana nga tuig an effectivity. Nagkataon la talaga nga igi ka tama han pag increase han minimum wage.”
Furthermore, the officer noted that operators who did not comply with the P2/km fare rate post pandemic are liable to an offense. However, as no written complaints were sent to their office, action was not warranted.
“Diri ma kami hito puydi mag pinan dakop hin waray basis. Kay kun may nareklamo amon tun gn papatawag. Gin a-address ngan namon ito bisan ha e-mail la.”
Reposar also noted that most complaints were simply misinformation and fare charges were exactly as they should be.
“Nahiara man gud kita dinhi nga an panukot han una hin pamasahe kay nag request an mga operator nga ipahabubo an sukkot. Hadto nga time, 2008 pa ada adto, hasta nala nga nag after Yolanda. Amo ito nga nag request liwat hira nga ibalik na ha regular nga P2/km kay amo talaga hiya an regular ha nationwide.”
The official said that due to this request, residents of Region 8 assumed that there has been an increase when in fact they were simply following the regular standard fare rate.
Looking away from the perspective of the commuters, the said increase of P0.40 was long over due for the side of the drivers and operators. But we can’t also ignore the fact that this is an additional burden for Leytenos and Samarnons who are trying to make ends meet despite the new minimum wage hike.
#OpinYon8 #OY8 #LTFRB #FareHike #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand