Even with Pantawid Pasada Card, E Samar jeep drivers may still push for fare hike

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar , May 2 (PIA)--The Pantawid Pasada Card of the Department of Energy is being distributed to drivers in the National Capital Region today, May 2, 2011.

Although the DoE has not yet announced when the cards will be distributed to the regions, drivers of public utility vehicles here in Eastern Samar are already looking forward to the Pantawid Pasada Cards.

But the Eastern Samar Transport Operators and Drivers Association (ESTODA) is also studying the steps into asking for a fare hike.

Although ESTODA considers the P1,050 assistance from the government to be a great help, if the price of oil still continues to soar a fare increase is the best solution the organization can think of. Nido Busa, a driver of a PUV that plies the Guiuan-Borongan route, when asked if he would prefer the assistance over a fare increase said, “We can’t say that’s better as of now.” In an interview, Busa and other members of ESTODA complained of the spate of oil price increases.