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Some commuters struggled getting a ride on Thursday as transport groups conducted a nationwide transport strike amid the rising fuel prices and postponement of the fare hike.
According to Joseph Morong’s “24 Oras” report, it took some time before some commuters were able to get a ride at Philcoa in Quezon City.
“Mga 45 minutes na [ako naghihintay ng jeep] pa-Cubao. Nahihirapan po akong sumakay,” commuter Jay Castino said.
(I have been waiting for 45 minutes to ride a jeep to Cubao. It’s difficult.)
“Medyo konti po, medyo mahirap po (there are fewer jeepneys, so it is a bit difficult to commute),” commuter Ditas Dayodayo said.
“Halos walang jeep na bumabyahe (there’s almost no operating jeep),” said Samuel Sales, a commuter whose traveling from San Mateo, Rizal to Cubao.
“Kahit po ung from Kamuning tas papunta po sana rito, wala rin pong jeep (there’s no jeep even from Kamuning going here),” said Irene Aliwalas, a commuter waiting for a jeep along E. Rodriguez St.
Free rides were offered by the Quezon City government, as well as in Baclaran, Parañaque.
Based on the assessment of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, traffic was normal, and no passengers were left stranded.
Some jeepney drivers and operators conducted a transport strike nationwide to protest the uncontrollable rise in oil prices, including the diesel they use.
PISTON estimated that with fuel prices at P120 per liter at certain gas stations, a jeepney that uses 30 liters of diesel per day would spend P3,600.
This could have been covered by the P1 to P2 fare hike, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended its implementation.
“100 pasahero namin, bale P100 lang ang karagdagan sa aming koleksyon, ngayon binawi pa. Eh magkano na ang krudo ngayon?” NCR PISTON president Ely Villena said.
(We only have P100 additional income from our 100 passengers. But it was revoked. How much is fuel right now?)
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the fare hike remains suspended until there is a go signal.
“Para maibsan kahit konting paghihirap namin kahit katiting yung paghihirap namin bilang tsuper, kasi 100 plus na po yung diesel tapos biglang kakanselahin ng pangulo,” said Marcos Barredo, chairperson of Novaliches Balintawak Drivers’ Association.
(Even a small fare increase could have eased some of our hardship as jeepney drivers, especially with diesel prices now over P100, but the President suddenly canceled it.)
The P1 fare hike for traditional jeepneys and P2 for modern jeepneys was supposed to be implemented today, a measure some passengers would likely accept.
Among those is commuter Irene Aliwalas, who said it is fair to increase the fares to help public transportation drivers.
But she said this should not be the only solution, suggesting that wage increases are also needed.
A member of the P2P Bus Alliance of Operators said fare hikes are necessary given that their expenses are also increasing, but added there is nothing they can do since they must comply with the President’s directive. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
