Trucking group seeks higher freight fees

An association of truckers on Tuesday demanded an increase in freight fees amid the continuous rise in oil prices.

According to Mark Salazar’s report on “24 Oras”, the Confederation Of Truckers Association Of The Philippines (CTAP) said the price hike would cushion the impact of the spike in fuel prices and other commodities.

The group warned that its members would suspend operations if their appeal will not be approved in 15 days.

“The rates that we're enjoying right now are not enough to cope with the operations costs. Like for example, salary ng tao, cost of fuel, gulong, toll fee...hindi na kaya. So of course, tatapusin na,” said Maria Zapata, CTAP President.

(The rates we're enjoying right now are not enough to cope with our operations costs. Like for example, wages of our personnel, cost of fuel, wheels, toll fee..it is lacking. So of course, we’ll stop.)

A sample computation of the truckers’ group said their freight fees that cost between P18,000 and P20,000 for deliveries from Port Area in Manila to Cabuyao, Laguna would not be enough to cover their current operational cost of about P17,000.

The expense includes fuel cost of around P7,200 to P7,500 for an average of P95 per liter of diesel, toll fees, salary of the the driver and his assistant, and empty trailer fee, the CTAP said.

There are over 300,000 delivery trucks in the country. Around 70 percent are members of CTAP.

The group said should the government reject their call for the price increase, fuel subsidies would also suffice.

“We're trying to convince our client again na bigyan naman kami ng fuel subsidy. Para if in case the fuel will rollback, bumalik sa normal ‘yung whatever contracted price namin na increase pwede namin ibalik sa dati,” said Zapata.

(We're trying to convince our client again to give us a fuel subsidy. So if in case the fuel will roll back, prices will go back to normal… whatever our contracted increased price is, we’re will go bring it back to its previous rate. )

“Para fair and square…para hindi na naman kayo uupo sa negotiation table,” she added.

(So everything will be fair and square… they won’t have to sit at the negotiation table.)

Zapata further warned that the suspension of operations of truckers would likely result in a shortage of products including food and household items.

“Mapupuno ang port. Hindi mailalabas. Magkakaroon tayo ng shortage ng lahat ng pangangailangan natin even household, even food. Kasi lahat ng nakikita natin sa lamesa natin…pag gising natin, kakainin. That happened na andyan sa lamesa natin because of the truck. It is delivered by the truck,” she said.

(The port will be filled up because the products would not be transported. We’ll have a shortage in our needs, even household even food. That happened that the items are at the table because of the truck. It is delivered by truck.)

GMA News sought the statement of the Department of Trade and Industry but it has yet to respond. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA News