BAGUIO City Councilor Benny Bomogao is calling on the public to report overcharging jeepney drivers.
Bomogao, chairman of the committee on public utilities transportation and traffic legislation, said those who insist on doubling fare should be reported to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) or the city mayor's office and warned if the practice continues, subsidy for jeepney drivers maybe revoked.
"Dapat same fare na because we have no order from the LTFRB to increase fare rates, kapag naningil pa ng double, baka itigil natin ang subsidy," Bomogao said.
The lawmaker said donation boxes at jeepneys is also illegal and should be removed as he urged the public to report the illegal acts.
Bomogao said, "Labag sa batas ang donations, I report agad ito."
The donations were tolerated although not allowed during the enhanced community quarantine stage as public transport was limited with social distancing inside vehicles observed.
During the ECQ, a P20 peso jeep fare was asked by drivers as operations were limited. Most of the riding public gave in and paid the higher fare, seeing few jeeps allowed to ply the streets and with half load in each trip.
As the city transitioned into the general community quarantine, all jeepney lines have been allowed to operate still, in a scaled down capacity, still practicing social distancing, resulting to a lessened capacity per trip.
In response to the plight of drivers, a P20 million subsidy has been allotted by the city government to augment income, giving a P600 a week payout to drivers, Bomogao added the subsidy will be exhausted for the sector and has started the roll out last week.
Reports have reached City Hall on a prevalent overcharging of drivers plying the roads which pushed Mayor Benjie Magalong to threaten a halt in the subsidy.
The LTFRB has allowed taxis and TNVS providers are allowed to resume operations in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) provided that physical distancing is observed.
The mayor said the purpose of the city government in giving subsidy is to give jeepney drivers a chance to recoup their losses brought about by the reduced number of their load capacity due to the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) safety measures.
The suspension of mass transport in the GCQ period displaced 8, 4 19 drivers comprised of 4,800 PUJ, 3,235 taxi and 83 school bus service drivers in the city.
In another development, the LTFRB is pushing for cashless transactions in taxis and transport network vehicle services to reduce the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus.
However, Bomogao said the city is not ready for the measure explaining no system has been set in palce for the cashless payments of passengers.
"The infrastructure of the application is not yet here, people and drivers must still be educated on this and there must also be an option for cash payments for those who cannot commit to the cashless transactions."
The city council has asked the LTFRB to be present in the council session next week. (With a report from VoxPop Philippines)
