Pete Pico and Diego Malacad (l-r) air the driver’s grievances at the start of the Drivers’ Holiday on Wednesday, June 15.
Some jeepney drivers who joined a “Drivers Holiday” in protest against the rising fuel prices expressed disappointment at Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya’s failure to show up for an expected meeting on Wednesday, June 15.
Gasataya said there was a mix up in the schedule but he will meet the drivers on Thursday, June 16.
About 30 percent of the jeepney drivers have stopped operating, Diego Malacad, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center secretary-general, said.
Malacad said they were disappointed that Gasataya did not show up for the meeting despite their having informed his office about it.
If Gasataya does not have the time to face them they will seek the help of the other congressmen of Negros Occidental, Malacad said.
They are asking that in the remaining days of the Duterte administration excise tax on fuel be deferred and that its Value Added Tax be cut from 12 to 6 percent, Malacad said.
If that is granted they will not need to ask for assistance or to raise fare rates, he said.
Gasataya said deferring excise tax and reducing VAT will need legislative action. There is not enough time to get it done in the 18th Congress, it will have to be done in the 19th Congress that will convene in July, he said.
But he assured that he will meet with the drivers to see how he can assist them.
Drivers have sought other jobs because jeepney rent is P800 a day and fuel cost is about P1,800 making it difficult for them to earn enough to feed their families, Malacad said.
Malacad said 99 percent of the Filipino people are affected by the huge increase in fuel prices, government should declare a state of calamity and use its calamity funds to help.*