By Tracy Cabrera
TO the chagrin of some public utility drivers, senior citizens will get 40 percent fare discount from public utility vehicles (PUVs), as announced by
Senior Citizens party-list representative Rodolfo Epimaco ‘Ompong’ Ordanes.
But Ordanes reminded that the discount, which starts this Wednesday (April 15), can only be enjoyed on subsidized PUVs.
Reacting to this, some PUV drivers gave negative comments about the additional discount, stressing that the move creates additional burden to them since the one peso fare hike they asked previously was disallowed by Malacañan.
“Hindi na nga pinagbigyan iyong kahilingan naming dagdag-pasahe e ngayon naman mababawasan pa ang kita namin dahil sa karagdagang diskuwento,” a jeepney driver from Caloocan City complained.
He argued that with the skyrocketing prices of diesel ang gasoline, their daily earnings have drastically decreased and with the 40 percent senior discount, this would become less even more than what they need to support their families.
“Dapat, binigay muna nila iyong taas-pasahe bago itinaas din ang diskuwento ng mga senior (citizen),” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Ordznes explained that “the added discount is one of the conditions of the Department of Transportation (DoTr)’s net service contracting program, which covers 823 routes.
He announced that the initiative covers traditional and modern jeepneys, UV Express vans, city buses, and EDSA Carousel buses.
“This net service contracting is a big help to drivers and operators, including many senior citizens who are drivers. I commend the DoTr for the design of the net service contracting program,” the sectoral lawmaker enthused.
