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Amid the incessant fuel price hikes, several bus operators have been forced to reduce their number of trips to avoid operating at a loss.
In a “24 Oras” report by Oscar Oida on Tuesday, Alex Yague, director of the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP), shared that several bus terminals now have fewer buses dispatched for trips.
“Lahat ng mga operator ngayon, nagbabawas na ng biyahe,” Yague said.
(All operators right now are reducing their trips.)
“Actually, makikita mo sa mga terminal nila, ‘pag pumasok sa terminal ng bus, napakaraming bus na nakaparada doon na walang biyahe,” he added.
(Actually, you can see it in their terminals—when you go inside a bus terminal, there are so many buses parked there with no scheduled trips.)
To cushion the impact of the recent fuel price hike, PBOAP urged the government to approve the proposed fare increase, stating it would sustain their livelihoods far better than government subsidies.
In March, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended the scheduled implementation of the fare hike, noting that it would pose a heavy burden on commuters.
“Nakikita namin na dapat nang i-lift na ‘yung suspension [at] ma-implement na ‘yung fare increase para magpatuloy ang serbisyo ng mga provincial buses sa publiko,” Yague said.
(We believe it is time to lift the suspension and implement the fare increase so provincial buses can continue serving the public.)
Charlie Portizo, a 50-year-old jeepney driver, echoed the same call for a fare increase.
Portizo said that while he works hard every day, he takes home very little income for his family.
“Minsan nakaka-P500 pa rin, ‘yun naman ‘yung pinakamalaki pero minsan wala na. ‘Yung diesel namin ‘yung P800 doon na napupunta ‘yung kita namin—sa diesel na lang talaga,” Portiza said.
(Sometimes I still make P500—that’s the highest—but other times, I take home nothing. Around P800 goes toward our diesel—our earnings really just end up going to fuel.)
“Sa totoo lang, sir, ‘di naman namin kailangan talaga ng ayuda. Kailangan namin ngayon, sir, ‘yung taasan man lang ‘yung pamasahe kahit ‘yun man lang. Para kahit papaano maka-survive kami,” he added.
(To be honest, sir, we don’t really need subsidies. What we need right now, sir, is at least a fare increase—even just that. So that somehow, we can survive.)
‘Last resort’
The implementation of a fare increase remains the government’s last resort, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Banoy Lopez.
“Sana ho, ang pag-i-impose natin ng fare hike ay maging last resort,” Lopez said.
(Hopefully, imposing a fare hike will be our last resort.)
“‘Pag nagtaas po tayo ng pamasahe, sigurado po makakadagdag din ‘yan sa magiging inflation. Makakadagdag sa presyo rin po ng serbisyo at sa presyo ng mga goods,” he added.
(If we raise fares, it will certainly contribute to inflation. It will also add to the prices of services and basic goods.)
The DOTr added that the government is doing everything it can to assist drivers and operators.
Lopez has ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to study the situation and submit recommendations regarding the possibility of a fare hike. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/LDF, GMA News
