Third district Board Member Jade Bautista delivered a privilege speech on Jan. 11, 2022 asking for solutions regarding the exorbitant fares in public utility vehicles (PUV) in the province despite the fact that social distancing is no longer practiced.
The Department of Transportation (DoTR) has issued a guideline allowing more passengers to ride PUVs in areas under Alert Level 2. Bohol is under Alert Level 2 as of now.
This means that the social distancing rule is no longer strictly implemented inside PUVs.
Bautista said that even if the PUVs are allowed to carry more passengers, the fare remains exorbitant and doubled than what people paid prior to the pandemic.
“Sa atong mga gi-atubang nga mga pagsuway karon taliwa sa Covid [Coronavirus disease] ug sa epekto sa bagyong Odette, taas na kaayo ug agi ang diperensya nga 20 o 30 pesos sa pletehan,” the board member said in a Facebook post that appeared a day after her she delivered her privilege speech.
She is hopeful that the problem will be given a solution in the soonest possible time.
“Nanghinaut ta nga mahatagan kini ug kasulbaran sa labing daling panahon,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bautista also mentioned the alleged overloading of Lite Ferry 88 traveling to Tubigon from Cebu on January 6, 2022.
She learned about the allegation from a passenger who was disappointed and concerned for the welfare of the passengers.
Bautista’s privilege speech is referred to the Committee on Public Utilities and Franchises haired by Board Member Romulo Cepedoza.
