ILIGAN CITY —– After the Iligan City Government allowed the resumption of public transport subject to social distancing, an Iligan based transport group is asking for a “temporary” increase in the minimum fare for the duration of the ‘Modified Community Quarantine” (MCQ).
Instead of seven pesos, the Coalition of Lanao del Norte Utility Transport for Change (CLUTCH) is requesting the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Committee on Transportation in Congress to allow them to temporarily increase the minimum fares in Iligan City to 15 pesos for as long as social distancing is mandated under the MCQ.
LUTCH is an Iligan-based association of around 2,000 jeepney operators and drivers covering 24 routes in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental.
“Temporary lang mani, bisan karon lang nga limitado ang isakay namo nga pasahero tungod kay mag-observe man sa social distancing. Para makabawi ug maka-renta mi sa jeep,” said CLUTCH Chairman Raul Permites. (This is only temporary because of the limited number of passengers we are allowed under social distancing. We requested this so that we are able to pay the rental of the jeepney.)
Mayor Celso Regencia announced Thursday that Iligan City would be downgraded to an “MCQ from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting May 1st.
“This order shall take effect on May 1, 2020 until recalled, set aside, or revoked by the undersigned,” Regencia said in an announcement live over the Facebook page of the Philippine Information Agency – Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.
Under Executive Order number 40 declaring the MCQ, public utility jeepneys, taxis, calesa, trisikads and other public transports are allowed to operate within the city provided they observe social/physical distancing and with allowable number of passengers (including the driver/cuchero): Jeepneys: (half maximum capacity);taxis: maximum of three (3) persons; Calesa: maximum of three (3) persons; trisikads: maximum of two (2) persons.
“Gusto nami magsugod ugma (May 1) sa pagpamasahero pero basin dili mi makabayad sa renta kay gamay raman pud ang manggawas kay limitado paman pud ang lihok sa tawo. Hulaton pa pud namo ang among request nga ma-approve,” Permites said.(We want to start tomorrow (May 1) but we may not be able to pay the rental because there are only a few passengers going out since their movements are still very limited. We also want to wait for our request to be approved.)
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