Don’t shortchange passengers, Senate bet urges PUJ drivers

MANILA – A senatorial candidate appealed to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers not to shortchange passengers amid the unabated rise in fuel prices.

In a statement Friday, Partido Reporma senatorial bet and former national police chief Guillermo Eleazar cried foul over some drivers who either ignore or become aggressive when passengers ask for their change for their fare.

“Nauunawaan natin ang saloobin ng ating mga PUV drivers pero maling gawain ito na dapat itama. Meron tayong batas na dapat sundin at alalahanin natin na mga mahihirap at nagtitipid din ang inyong mga pasahero kung saan bawat barya, gaano man kaliit ito, ay mahalaga lalo na sa panahon ngayon (We understand the sentiments of our PUV drivers but this is wrongdoing that must be corrected. We have a law to follow and we must remember that your passengers are poor and also save where every coin, no matter how small, especially during these hard times),” he added.

While the minimum fare in public utility jeepneys stays at PHP9, reports showed that some drivers either do not return the PHP1 change for a PHP10 payment by passengers or charge even higher fares in some areas.

Transport groups have filed several petitions before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for a fare increase, citing the series of big-time oil price hikes in the past weeks.

The LTFRB has yet to decide on the petitions but the government has already allocated PHP2.5 billion for the transport sector in the form of fuel subsidy.

A total of 377,443 beneficiaries are set to receive PHP6,500 each to help cushion the impact of the skyrocketing global oil prices.

Eleazar said he has been appealing to the national government to provide fuel subsidies and other forms of assistance to the public utility vehicle drivers and operators as early as January, amid the series of oil price hikes that was aggravated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“Pero ang tama ay tama, at ang mali ay mali. At hindi tama na labagin natin ang batas para magsamantala sa mga commuters na matindi rin ang pinagdadaanan araw-araw para maitawid ang kanilang mga pangangailangan sa buhay. Hindi tayo magkakasundo dito dahil maling gawain ito (But right is right, and wrong is wrong. And it is not right for us to break the law to take advantage of commuters who also go through a lot every day to get through their necessities of life. We can’t get along with it because it’s the wrong thing to do). Hindi lamang ito pagiging insensitive sa ating kapwa, baka mapahamak pa kayo kapag patuloy ninyong gagawin ito (Not only is it being insensitive to our neighbor, you may even be damned if you continue to do so),” he said.

The LTFRB has already warned the PUV drivers of sanctions for overcharging, adding that it would deploy more of its personnel to run after erring drivers.

Accordingly, the first offense for fare overcharging is a PHP5,000 fine.

A fine of PHP10,000 and impounding of the vehicle await second offense violators while a PHP15,000 fine and possible suspension or cancellation of franchise await third offense violators.