Arrest Collorum Vans Preying on Hapless Commuters
On behalf of the 5,000 plus strong members of the Pilipino Society and Development Advocates Commuter-Consumer Incorporated, a non-governmental organization for the pursuit of the welfare of the Filipino commuter and transport workers, I thank Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade and members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Infectious Diseases (IATF) for their swift action to our present-day maladies.
Their official statement yesterday, January 4, 2021, proves that Secretary Tugade and members of the DOTr are highly cognizant and acutely aware of the present challenges being experienced by commuters nowadays.
With the raising of the status of Metro Manila and environs to alert level 3 due to the re-surgence of COVID-19, Pasada believes that additional buses must be deployed in various cities and provinces such as Baguio, San Fernando in Pampanga and La Union, Dagupan, Lingayen and Urdaneta in Pangasinan, Cagayan-Isabela and Nueva Ecija, as well as the Bicol region to fetch several hundreds of commuters still unable to secure their rides to Metro Manila. Without additional buses with franchises, our fellow Kababayans particularly Overseas Filipino Workers and balikbayans are falling prey to unscrupulous operators of collorum buses and vans, charging fares up to five to seven times more than the usual. This, sirs, has got to stop!
I would also like to appeal to our Honorable Secretary Tugade and members of the IATF to reconsider their decision for our commuters to use the NLEX bus terminal in Bocaue Bulacan. The additional fare of 56 pesos per passenger is a financial burden for most of our members, some of whom are still unemployed.
Requiring commuters to cough out 100 pesos (back and forth) is inconsistent with the current policy announced by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte not to burden Filipinos with superfluous fares particularly at this time when everyone is suffering due to the economic recession.
Likewise, our members from the transport sector are worried due to the unsteady financial situation of most bus firms. The operator of the NLEX bus terminal requires rent from every bus firm a humongous amount of 100,000 pesos as parking fee per bus on top of an entry fee of 400 pesos per bus unit. Such a financial requirement will hasten the bankruptcy of bus companies leading to a loss of employment not just from the worker’s ranks, but also to other industries and businesses connected with the transport sector.
Pasada cannot allow such a situation to happen, particularly to this sector. Is government planning to give this sector to foreign transport operators from China? This is not anymore, a laughable issue—this transgresses our national security. Imagine a foreign country in control of our transportation? Transportation is a critical component of our national security and this cannot be compromised in the name of business or capital.
I humbly ask Secretary Tugade and members of the IATF to reconsider their decision for the sake of the heavily burdened commuters and transport workers. Let us meet and work together for the unburdening of concerns by our commuters and transport workers.
Iisang Pasada lamang po tayong mga Pilipino, Mr. Secretary. Sama-sama tayo sa Pasada.
For Inquiries:
Ric Rivera
Founder/Spokesperson
Pilipino Society and Development Advocates Commuter Consumer Incorporated
PASADA Incorporated
Unit 204 Kamuning Place, 60 Kamuning Road QC Philippines
41-e Sct. Ybardolaza Street, QC Philippines, 1103
09175395320
Pasadacc.com 