LUNA, Apayao – To regulate and avoid excessive fare charges during the conduct of Cordillera Administrative Regional Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet on February 27 to March 3 in which Apayao is the host province, Vice Governor Remy Albano initiated the gathering of Liga ng Barangay Presidents and all transportation groups for special meeting on January 25 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Hall, Apayao Government Center here.
Provincial Liga ng Barangay President and Committee on Transportation Chairman Joefrey Blas presided the meeting and discussed the vital roles of Apayao transport groups in ferrying athletes, coaches and all visitors from their billeting areas to the playing venues and vice-versa or to tourist spots within the province.
Blas requested the cooperation of all drivers in order to maintain the identity of Iapayaos as peace-loving and hospital people. He underscored the importance of transportation during this long-week regional sports activity and the way a particular driver deals with visitors as it will surely reflect and affect the identity of the province.
As the playing venues and billeting areas are scattered in the Municipalities of Luna, Flora, Sta. Marcela and Pudtol dubbed as “Lower Apayao,” there is a need to hire jeepneys and tricycles. The group agreed that aside from regulated fare, all drivers are required to wear the prescribed uniform with identification cards.
The wearing of uniforms and IDs are faster means to determine the authenticity of the transport group in carrying passengers. Also, every municipality has a suggested dress code for easier recognition.
In Flora, the daily hire for jeepney is P2,000 exclusive of fuel which can be used in any point within Lower Apayao. The fare for tricycle hire from Flora to Sta. Marcela is P100, to Payanan, Luna is P300 while to Pudtol is P500. The regular fare within Flora is P13.
Within the Municipality of Luna, Payanan to Brgys. Tumog or Dagupan would be P25 for regular passengers while P20 for students or senior citizens. San Isidro to Payanan is P20 and P15 for student or senior.
It was also agreed upon by the group that vans found within the province should be registered in every municipality as without proper registration, they will not be permitted to be hired. Sta. Marcela and Pudtol will still finalize the standard fare within their localities.
Meanwhile, Board Member Mcleen Julian suggested that hotline numbers of every municipality will be printed in tarpaulins which will be posted in every terminal. According to Mcleen, the hotline numbers will be used to monitor all drivers and a fast way of reaching out for officials who can admonish, castigate or even punish erring drivers.
Blas added that in all every billeting schools, hotlines are preferably be put in tarpaulin for easier access for all delegates.
BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
