Provincial, MM bus operators to meet with Garafil
THE provincial and Metro Manila bus operators will meet on Thursday with the newly installed Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Atty. Cheloy V. Garafil to discuss all the industry’s concerns and challenges.
Engineer Alex Yague, executive director of the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP), said the group is very “happy” and thankful to LTFRB Chief Atty. Garafil, for immediately setting up the dialogue with the transport groups.
“Talagang nagpapasalamat kami sa kanya [Garafil], nag-schedule siya agad ng dialogue na ito with bus operators,” said Yague.
Yague said the concerns they wanted to discuss with Garafil are a “roadworthy” policy instead of an aged policy on the phase-out (of bus units); 100% use of owned terminals; reprieves payment on registration, supervision, and insurance premiums on non-operational units.
The group also wanted to discuss the GPS registration; immediate review of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) policy on route rationalization, consolidation, and sale and transfer; prices of diesel wages of employees, toll fees, battery, and spare parts increases.
“Yung fare rate increase naman will be subject to public hearings,” said Yague.
Yague said that the rollback of diesel and gasoline would be a good “development” for the transport industry, which means a little relief for bus operators.
“Kasi ngayon wala pang pasok, marami pang walang trabaho, limited pa ang biyahe, kaya yung load ng pasahero mababa pa rin, tapos mataas ang prices ng diesel per liter,” Yague pointed out.
He added that the transport sector, particularly the bus operators, “are looking positively [to] this meeting because [we know] LTFRB Chairperson Garafil is a reasonable, understanding and [a] sincere person.”
“Yung bang magaang sa pakiramdam si Chairperson makita mo pa lang kahit sa picture o sa national television, kaya talagang naniniwala kami na siya ang ‘pag-asa’ ng transport lalo na sa bus industry,” said Yague.
