Matapos magpatupad ng pagtapyas sa pasahe sa pampasaherong jeep, hiniling ng transport group na 1-Utak sa Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) na ipag-utos din ang pagbabawas sa base rate ng mga transport network company (TNC), tulad ng Grab at Uber.

Ang pinakamalaking balakid na kinahaharap ng petisyon na inihain ng 1-Utak, sa pamumuno ni Vigor D. Mendoza, ay ang nakasaad sa probisyon ng Department Order 2015-11 na nilagdaan ni Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya noong Mayo 8, 2015: “Fares are by TNC, subject to oversight from the LTFRB in cases of abnormal disruptions of the market.”

Ipinagkaloob ng naturang kautusan ang complete control sa TNC sa mga serbisyo nito kaya walang magagawa ang LTFRB Board hinggil sa usapin ng fare rate.

“Any change is the market, whether actual or imminently threatened, resulting from stress of weather, convulsion of nature, failure or shortage of electric power or other source of energy, strike, civil disorder, war, military action, national or local emergency, or other cause of an abnormal disruption of the market which results in the declaration of a state of emergency by the President,” saad sa kautusan ng DoTC.

VP Sara, tahasang iginiit na hindi niya binoto si Romuadlez

Umaasa na lang ang LTFRB Board na susundan ng mga TNC ang naging hakbang ng mga jeepney transport group sa boluntaryong pagsusumite ng petisyon sa bawas-pasahe bunsod ng patuloy na pagbulusok ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo.

“Considering the fact that prices of petroleum products have gone down and is continuously going down, maybe the LTFRB can now exercise its ‘oversight powers to regulate its fares?” tanong ni LTFRB Board Member Ariel Inton.

“The jeepney transport sector voluntarily reduced their fares last week, will Uber and Grab follow for the benefit of their passengers?” ani Inton. (CZARINA NICOLE O. ONG)