MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Transportation (DOTr) welcomed the release of P1.0 billion funds to be used for fuel subsidies.

In a statement, the DOTr said this is in support of the transportation sector amid the increasing prices of fuel and oil products. The department also assured the funds will be distributed as cash grants to qualified and bonafide public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers for the remaining months of this year.

“Qualified PUV drivers will receive the cash grants using the system already established under the Pantawid Pasada Program of the LTFRB, where the Landbank of the Philippines shall disburse money straight to the cash cards issued to drivers,” the DOTr said.

Meanwhile, the transportation department will also discuss with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) the increase of passenger capacity in public transportation as the National Capital Region and other parts of the country are placed under more relaxed quarantine levels. AAC

MANILA, Philippines—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday (October 18) issued show-cause orders against two consortiums operating along the EDSA Busway for failing to deploy sufficient number of buses.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra explained that the agreed cap on the maximum allowable units of bus units is at 550 buses, but the two consortiums on Monday only averaged as low as 120 units.

“Minabuti nating mag-issue ng show-cause order (We decided to issue a show-cause order), directing the two consortiums running the EDSA Busway why their franchise or special permit in running the EDSA Busway should not be cancelled, suspended or that they be not penalized for deploying so few units,” he added.

He added that the two consortiums are receiving payment under the Libreng Sakay service contracting program yet there are still persistent reports of drivers and conductors not receiving their salary despite rendering  full service.

“Now that we have paid so much of this to operators already, particularly dito sa EDSA Busway Consortium or anyone for that matter, hindi na nila pwedeng gawing rason ang hindi pagbabayad sa kanilang drivers,” Chairman Delgra said.

He reminded bus operators of their obligation to pay employees as mandated under the Labor Code for the EDSA Busway Libreng Sakay Program. AAC

MANILA, Philippines – Plano ngayon ng ilang transport group na maghain ng pormal na petisyon para sa hiling nilang dagdag-pasahe sa Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Ayon sa grupong Pasang Masda, tatlong piso sa unang tatlong kilometro ang hirit ng mga jeepney driver sa gitna na rin ng tumataas na presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo.

Kung maaaprubahan ay magiging P12 na ang minimum fare sa pampasaherong jeep mula sa kasalukuyang P9.

Tiniyak naman ni Obet Martin, ang pinuno ng grupong Pasang Masda, na agad nilang ibababa ang pamasahe kapag bumaba na rin ang halaga ng krudo.

“About 3 years ago or 4 years ago, nang bumaba ang presyo ng diesel na tig-29 pesos, immediately, kami rin ang grupo ay nagpunta ng LTFRB. Then, we filed our petition para i-rollback ang pamasahe. Nag-file kami at iyan din naman ang assurance natin sa ating mga kababayan. ‘Pag nag-normalize, ibabalik po natin doon sa dating pamasahe,” ani Martin.

Paliwanag ng Department of Energy (DOE), ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo sa bansa ay epekto ng paggalawa ng pandaigdigang presyo.

Ayon kay DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad, bunsod ito ng kakulangan sa supply at pagtaas ng demand sa langis dahil sa unti-unting pagbubukas ng ekonomiya at sa winter season sa ibang bansa.

“Itong nangyayaring pagkakakulangan ng ating crude oil supply on the global market ay ito’y inI-expect na aabot po ng hanggang katapusan ng taon at posible pong magkaroon na ng easing out, yung paghihinay-hinay ng kakulangan, on the first quarter of 2022,” ani Abad.

Sa panig naman ng LTFRB, sinabi ng executive director ng ahensiya na si Joel Bolano na pag-aaralan nila ang hiling ng mga tsuper na itaas ang pasahe upang maka-agapay sila sa kasalukuyang halaga ng petrolyo.

“Batay po doon sa mga increases ng atin pong petrolyo, based doon sa ating computation po kung babalikan po natin yung year-on-year na increase po ay at least mga 1.20 – hindi po lalagpas ng P1.26 more or less po,” ani Abad.

Payo naman ng DOE sa mga tsuper na magpakarga sa mga gasolinahan na nag-aalok ng promotions gaya ng discount at rebate na inilalaan dahil sa mataas na kumpetisyon.