PISTON opposes fare rollback, pushes for legislated wage increase

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 16) — Drivers belonging to the Pagkaka-isa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide-Metro Baguio Chapter (Piston-MB) hit the petition to rollback jeepney fare and instead called for the passage of P125 legislated minimum wage increase for private sector and the P3,000 across the board salary increase for the public sector employees for the majority passengers to cope with current fare rates.

Piston-MB contested as irrational and misleading the petition to rollback the jeepney fare by 50 centavos for the first 4 kilometers and the additional P1.15 instead of the current P1.20 for every succeeding kilometer, submitted to the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) by a certain homeowners’ association in Quezon City and supported by United Transport Coalition representing the urban poor and the transport sector, respectively.

The petitioners’ demand was based on the rollback of fuel prices that happened these last two months.

Rollback hurts drivers

According to Carlito Wayas, president of Piston-MB, the rollback in jeepney fare will hurt the pockets of almost one million public utility drivers nationwide who work for nearly 14 hours daily to provide cheap public transportation.

He also said that the rollback of the fuel prices this past two months is misleading and is not enough to justify any fare rollback because of threats that oil prices in the world market will increase next month due to the winter season.

This year, the price of diesel increased 15 times with an average of 50 centavos — from P31 per liter in January to P38.50 in August until it was rolled back to P33.50 per liter. The price of diesel was P29.50 per liter in May 2005 when the last fare hike was granted. Since then oil prices continued to rise eroding the driver’s daily income. Wayas said, unless the price of oil products has reached the 2005 levels, fare rates could not be rolled back to its 2005 levels.

Malacañang ploy

Piston also believes that the said petitioners, a home owner association with some 142 members in Quezon City, and the United Transport Coalition are groups connected with Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and are using the issue of fare rollback to gain “pogi points” now that election is fast approaching.

Piston explains that the roll back of jeepney fare is a deceptive and divisive ploy of Malacañang. It deprives the drivers of an income that is barely enough to sustain their daily existence so they could continue rendering service that the government has deprived the public of — cheap and convenient transport system.

Wayas challenged GMA saying that the best way to show sincerity in addressing the plight of the poor is to grant the long demand for P125 legislated minimum wage increase for private sector and the P3,000 across the board salary increase for the public sector employees. # Nestor Guillermo for NORDIS