Salceda

Lift public transport restrictions amid oil price hikes — Salceda

February 27, 2022 Jester P. Manalastas 574 views

IN anticipation of higher prices of petroleum products, all public transport restrictions should be lifted and all transport routes should be resumed.

This was proposed by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, in a bid to help the transport sector that is adversely affected by the rising cost of diesel and gasoline

Following the tension between Russia and Ukraine, oil supply in the world is restricted.

“The protections accorded by additional public transport restrictions are marginal at best, and more public transport supply is a better guard against overcrowding when workplaces are beginning to normalize,” Salceda said.

According to Salceda, the country could save as much as 1.4 billion pesos in fuel every day by simply reverting to pre-pandemic public transport supply.

“The situation in the global markets will take a while to stabilize. Meanwhile we are starting to have plans to go back to school and go to work. Oil prices will hurt the middle class more if they are forced to take private vehicles due to lack of alternatives.”

Salceda added that the current public transport supply will not be able to service a resumption of face to face classes.

“Especially in the rural areas, where PUVs like tricycles are essential, we need to lift all public transport restrictions,” he stressed.

He likewise called for immediate implementation of promised pantawid pasada

“They have promised that way back last year. I call on the economic managers to make good on their P1 billion fuel voucher program immediately, and if possible, before we lift all PUV restrictions,” he said.

Without such subsidies, transport operators may decide to stay home due to losses after fuel hikes without fare hikes.

“The subsidies will be just as essential to public transport supply as the lifting of COVID restrictions will be. So, the best time for those subsidies was yesterday. Now is also a good time,” he said.