The Ministry of Transportation and Communications spearheaded a public consultation on October 18 to finalize the fare rates and transportation routes that will be adopted by public utility vehicle (PUV) operators in Cotabato City. (Hamdan Badrudin/BIO)
COTABATO CITY – To finalize the fare rates and transportation routes that will be adopted by public utility vehicle (PUV) operators in this city, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) spearheaded a public consultation on October 18.
Organized by MOTC’s Bangsamoro Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (BLTFRB), the consultation gathered insights from all stakeholders, such as transport groups, academe, local government unit, and commuters including students, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.
According to Director II Datunor Abutazil of the Bangsamoro Land Transportation Office, it is crucial to ensure that transport system is not only efficient but also affordable and convenient for all residents and commuters.
MOTC’s Chief of Information Management Division Razul Ezzedden Mohamad presented the proposed fare rates, providing a precise calculation of rates per kilometer. Meanwhile, Cotabato City Assessor Engr. Rommel Pausal presented the proposed local public transport route plan.
“The proposed regular fare is P12.00, with a discounted fare of P9.50, in line with the new fare matrix released by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on October 3, 2023,” said Mohamad
“However, the recent approval of a provisional P1 increase in minimum fare for PUVs by the LTFRB has raised the regular fare nationwide to P13.00 and the discounted fare to P12.00. This provisional fare hike became effective on October 8”, he added.
MOTC Minister Paisalin Tago is optimistic that the public consultation can contribute to the economic development of BARMM, especially in Cotabato City where the Bangsamoro Government Center is located. He also emphasized that the event signifies one of the gains of the peace process that established the autonomy of the Bangsamoro region.
“We are now little by little exercising the mandate given to us by law. This mandate was given to us because our forefathers, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers have sacrificed for us. This was not given on a silver platter. Pinaghirapan po natin ito kaya dapat po ay pagbutihin natin at pangalagaan ang pag-establish ng BARMM because all of us have sacrificed to achieve this government,” said Minister Tago.
[We struggled to achieve this, so we have to do our best in establishing BARMM, because all of us have sacrificed to achieve this government.]
The Bangsamoro Government, through the leadership of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, ensures that the gains of the peace process and the developments in the region are sustained in order to provide equal opportunities to all of its constituents.
Cotabato City Vice Mayor Johari “Butch” Abu stated that the public consultation aligns with the recent installation of traffic lights with CCTV in the city, which will further enhance public transportation and the enforcement of traffic rules.
“I firmly believe that this will significantly help the implementation of rules and regulations in line with the traffic lights in the city and eliminating the probability of violation of the said rules,” said Vice Mayor Abu.
Among the audience of the public consultation was 63-year-old Muhamad Usop who has been driving PUVs in Cotabato City since 1986.
“Masaya po ako na nakadalo ako sa programang ito dahil mas malinaw na kung magkano ba dapat ang pamasahe. Malaking tulong ito sa amin na mga driver,” Usop said.
[I am happy to have joined this program because it is now clearer how much the fare should be. This is a big help for us drivers.]
Meanwhile, for student commuters like Faisal Samad of Cotabato State University, “budgeting our allowance is crucial. Therefore, having an agreement on PUV fare is essential”, he said. (Norjana Malawi/BIO)
