Fare rate in Negros Occidental will remain the same until the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board approves the petition for an increase submitted by transport groups, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center secretary general Jesse Ortega said yesterday.

He said UNDOC-Piston submitted its petition to the LTFRB in Nov. 22, 2007 but it has not been approved. Instead, the government assured the drivers and operators that it will do something to address the problem of rising fuel costs.

Ortega said prices of fuel products at gasoline stations remain the same despite their call to suspend the 12 percent Value Added Tax to bring down the cost per liter.

He added that transport groups are skeptical about the announcement from Malacañang that it will reduce the oil tariff since its implementation can take a very long time.

If the government is serious in addressing the problem then it should suspend, if not totally abolish the VAT on fuel products, Ortega said.

Otherwise, it should approve the petition for fare rate increase of additional P1 for the first four kilometers and an additional P.25 for every succeeding kilometer nationwide filed by the transport groups.

Should the LTFRB approve the petition, regular fare in Bacolod City will become P8, Ortega said.

UNDOC and the Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association held a two-day strike in December to lodge their protest against the rising cost of fuel products.

It paralyzed transportation in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City but failed to bring down the prices of fuel.*NAB

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