Balanga City – Members of the Kaisahan ng mga Sasakyang Namamasada sa Bataan (KASAKBAYAN), a provincial public transport federation with 25 PUV associations plying Bataan province has opposed the exorbitant terminal fees imposed to the transport sector in the newly-built terminal of the Park Solutions, Inc.
KASAKBAYAN has launched its protests this morning in front of the newly-built terminal operated by Park Solutions, Inc., a subcontractor of SM supermalls.
Cris Mira, ex-officio Chairman of KASAKBAYAN, said that jeepney drivers and operators were among the sectors hit hard by the enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that only a very small number if none at all of the affected drivers were able to receive relief like SAP or other support from LGUs but a large number are left to fend on their own or even resorted to begging in order to bring food on their tables.
Now, despite the lowly situation of the sector, the issue regarding the privatization of the transport terminal adds up to the already heavy burden the jeepney drivers and operators have been carrying since.
Last May 3, the Park Solutions, Inc., a subcontractor of SM Supermalls operating the terminal has imposed the implementation of terminal fees without consultation with the transport sector.
The drivers were just surprised they were obliged to pay a rental fee for the terminal or they be barred from entering the facility. The cost charged daily would be at P80 per unit for mini buses, P50/unit for UV Express, P30/unit for jeepney and P20/unit for tricycle.
This cost, Mira added would amount to as much as Php20,000 to 30,000 a month per jeepney/vehicle association per slot. Also, additional Php1000 per unit is planned to be charged from the transport sector every month, aside from the Php150 RFID fee by the terminal operator.
“Hindi pa nga kami nakakabiyahe, limitadong ayudang tinanggap, hindi pa naming alam kung paano kikita sa kalahating pasahero na isasakay namin, tapos sisingilin na kami agad ng terminal? Pasakit na samin ito”, Efren Montes, Secretary of KASAKBAYAN, lamented.
“Asan ba ang malasakit ng korporasyon at gobyerno sa mga tulad naming mga drivers at maliliit na operators?” Montes asked.”
Kailangan namin ay ayuda, tulong. Hindi pa nga kami nakakabangon, tinatapakan pa kami,” he added.
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“Wala naman problema magbayad, ang gusto lang namin, una, konsultasyon muna, negosasyon. Ikalawa, huwag naman yung mataas na hindi na namin kakayanin, pandemya pa ngayon, wala pa kami halos kita dahil hindi pa full operation ang ating ekonomiya, wala pa ang mga pasahero dahil mga naka-work from home pa, mga estudyante nasa online school pa,” Lulu Monzon, President of BUBTSC and Treasurer of KASAKBAYAN, said.
“Dapat isipin ng SM na kami rin naman ang magdadala ng pasahero sa mall niya, dapat naman bigyan niya kami ng konsiderasyon. Sino ba ang kikita dito ng malaki? Kaya ang panawagan namin sa pamahalaan, sana magkaroon ng public terminal para sa public transport at mananakay, kapag pribado gaya ng SM, sila lang ang kikita ng malaki,” Mira added.
“Public transport plays a vital role in the resumption of our economy; government must begin to treat us as part of the solution, listen to our voices and be truly responsive to our needs, hindi yung turu-turuan kung sino ang haharap samin ” said Mira.