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PNoy, Cabinet to discuss toll, taxi fare hikes Thursday


President Benigno Aquino III and other government officials will meet on Thursday to discuss ways of cushioning the impact of the recent toll increases to the public, a Palace official said on Sunday. “We have a cluster meeting on Thursday and that’s going to be part of the agenda," said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang in a radio interview. He also said President Aquino may also meet with his economic managers in the coming days to tackle the toll adjustments implemented in the North Luzon and South Luzon expressways as well as the fare increase being sought by taxi operators. “Concern talaga ng Palace ang sabay-nabay na NLEX, SLEX, taxi. Talagang kailangan nating tingnan kung ano ang magagawa natin. Hindi naman natin sinasabi na hindi nararapat ang ilang mga increases, pero kailangan nating pag-aralan ang paraan kung papano matutulungan ang regular na consumers na ma-affect dito," Carandang told Radyo ng Bayan. (The almost simultaneous increases in NLEX and SLEX tolls as well as taxi fares are Palace concerns. We really need to see what we can do about it. We’re not saying that those increases are not justified, but we really need to find ways to cushion its impact on the riding public.)


Carandang said the administration will try to find an acceptable and legal solution so solve the problem. He said he is confident that concerned Cabinet officials are already coordinating with each other to find a common solution to the issue. “I think ipapatawag ang economic team. I think even now, kahit hindi mo sila ipatawag, kilala ko ang mga iyan, alam naman ang concerns na ito, I’m sure nag-uusap-usap na ang mga iyan kung paano natin magagawa ito sa paraan na hindi masyadong mahihirapan ang taongbayan," he said. (The President’s economic team may be called for a meeting. But I think even now, the concerned Cabinet officials are already finding ways to lessen the impact of the increases to the public.) Carandang said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus are on top of the study. “I talked to the President. He (Aquino) said we are taking steps to make sure that consumers don't feel the pain too much. The specifics are with Ping de Jesus and Cesar Purisima. If you want specifics, the President said those two people are on top of it," he said. Along SLEX, Class 1 vehicles (cars and jeepneys) traveling from Alabang to Calamba will now pay P76 while Class 2 vehicles (light trucks and small buses) will be charged P152, and Class 3 vehicles (trucks and buses) will expect to pay P238. On the other hand, an 11-percent—or P2.38 per kilometer—toll adjustment has been implemented along NLEX. The government also approved the increase in flag down rates of taxis from the current P30 to P40 or an additional P10, which would be effective on January 15. An additional P1 per succeeding 250 meters would also be added from the current P0.50. - KBK, GMANews.TV
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