DOTC to public: Share your sentiments on toll, fare hikes

As the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) prepares for its Cabinet meeting on Thursday to tackle recent toll and fare hikes, it encouraged the public, including transport groups, to send in their appeals, sentiments and suggestions. DOTC spokesman Undersecretary Dante Velasco said Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus can relay these appeals and suggestions to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on January 6. "Itong narinig natin sa media mukhang alam natin may mag-a-appeal within the next few days. So tatanggapin natin yan at ipaparating kay Secretary de Jesus. Kung maiparating before January 6 baka madala rin sa Malacañang ang umaapela, basahin, papakinggan at aaksyunan," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio on Tuesday. (We have heard in the media that some groups have voiced their sentiment about these fare and toll hikes. We will forward them to Secretary de Jesus. But those that come early before Thursday's meeting may have a better chance of being heard and acted upon.) Velasco said the public can still send in their position papers and appeals after January 6 and the DOTC will attend to them. According to the DOTC website, the Public Assistance Center number is: 7890. Its email address is: webmaster@dotc.gov.ph Toll and fare hikes The Palace on Sunday said Aquino will hold a Cabinet meeting with his economic team to find ways to minimize the impact of the recent toll and fare hikes. Higher toll rates took effect on Saturday at the 85-kilometer (km) North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), the 94.5-km Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), and the 8.5-km Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEx). Bus companies operating in Metro Manila and South Luzon provinces are pushing for 30- to 50-centavo per kilometer hike in fares, citing the 250-percent increase in toll fees as well as the steady climb in oil prices. Searching for options Velasco said the DOTC is preparing a list of options to minimize the effect of the toll hikes on the public. Velasco said the options include a staggered toll hike, at the risk of displeasing the foreign investors behind the tollway project. "Medyo magkakaproblema ang investor pero ganoon talaga at mamamayani ang ating kababayan ... Lahat ay pwede pagusapan, we are all sane people, pwede pag-usapan," he said. (There may be problems with investors but we have to put our people's welfare above everything else... We can always talk things out. We are sane people, we can talk things over.) Velasco said they are open to a setup similar to that of the North Luzon Expressway, where loyal customers can get discounts. He also said frequent users such as jeepney drivers can get discounts for using the tollways. "Pwede rin bigyan ng rebates ... Marami, di tumitigil ang ating imahinasyon para makaisip ng ibang paraan para gagaan itong mga sinasabi nating toll hike," he said. (We can also give them rebates. There are so many imaginative ways we can come up with to minimize the impact of the toll hikes.) – VVP, GMANews.TV