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Commuter group says 50-centavo fare cut is insufficient


MANILA, Philippines — The National Council for Commuters Protection (NCCP) on Monday considered filing another petition for minimum-fare rollback, saying the recent 50-centavo adjustment is insufficient. JP Soriano of GMA QTV’s “Balitanghali" reported that NCCP chairman Vicente Millora said once the prices of diesel stabilizes at P25 per liter the group will file another petition to pull the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys down to P6. "Kapag nag-i-stabilize ang presyo sa P25, dahil sa ngayon eh P23 to P26 ang diesel, palagay ko gagawa kami ng petisyon para maging P6 man lang," Millora said. [Once diesel prices settle at P25, because right now it’s moving between P23 to P26, we will file another petition to reduce the minimum fare to P6.] But transport groups are divided on the idea of further rollbacks. Pasang Masda chairman Robert Martin said they can no longer implement another fare cut. Earlier, he said they will only implement a reduction if diesel price settles at P24 to P25 in all gasoline stations in Metro Manila. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators head Efren de Luna said his group might implement another fare cut, only if diesel prices settle between P19-P20 per liter. He warned that once the diesel prices go up again, they will immediately increase the minimum fare. "Kapag bumaba pa ng P19-P20 per liter puwede ulit kami mag-roll back ng pamasahe, pero pag tumaas naman ng P5 ang langis ay agaran natin babawiin yung ibingay naitn sa consumer," De Luna said. As a solution, Pasang Masda’s Martin appealed to have diesel prices in Metro Manila standardized. "Kailangan natin i-uniform ang presyo sa Metro Manila para wala na kaming problema sa ibang presyo namin," Martin said. [Diesel prices in Metro Manila should have a uniform price so that we will no longer have problems with out fare rates.] The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board officials said they are studying the possible implementation of "parametric formula" to ensure just fare structures. "Meron tayong pagbabatayn na cost. Sa ngayon kasi parang arbitrary nangyayari sa fare eh. Kung ano lang maisip parang palengke nga eh. That shouldn't be the case we’re putting logic as far as fare setting is concerned," said LTFRB chair Alberto Suansing. [WE will have a basis for the costs. Right now the setting of fares is arbitrary. It’s like a market (place) but that shouldn’t be the case. We should put logic as far as the fare setting is concerned.] - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
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