Public transportation drivers not informed of fuel coupon plan
Public transportation drivers not informed of fuel coupon plan
JAKARTA (JP): Although just 10 days away, public
transportation drivers said on Tuesday that they still knew
nothing about the planned fuel coupons to be distributed under
the government-sponsored fuel subsidy scheme.
Interviewed separately, the drivers insisted that the
subsidized coupons would not be enough to cover their daily
operations, much more their earnings.
They instead warned of the possibly of hiking bus fares under
their own initiatives should they receive less income later.
"It will only help me if the government covers all of the 60
liters of diesel I need every day," said Tarjo, a Kopaja minibus
driver.
"If it isn't enough, I will have to hike the fare," he added.
He said he only knew that the minibus fare would be increased
from Rp 500 (six U.S. cents) to Rp 1,000 per passenger.
The government has decided to hike premium gasoline from Rp
1,000 to Rp 1,150, diesel from Rp 550 to Rp 600 and kerosene from
Rp 280 to Rp 350 per liter by April 1. However, it has also
prepared a system to subsidize poor families and public
transportation drivers by distributing coupons to them.
Under the system, developed by the National Development
Planning Board (Bappenas), a coupon will enable drivers to buy 12
liters of premium for minivans or 20 liters of diesel for buses
per day.
Poor families will receive 12 liters of kerosene a month.
Drivers will use those coupons to buy fuel at fuel stations
which will pump the fuel directly to their vehicles. The stations
can then cash the coupons at state Bank BNI, Bank BRI and Bank
Mandiri.
Parman, a driver of a P 38 bus plying the Blok M-Tanjung Priok
route said, "So far we haven't been told how to obtain the fuel
coupons."
Other drivers were worried that a possible fare increase would
only affect their daily income as passengers would reduce their
number of trips.
Separately interviewed, councillor Sayogo Hendrosubroto of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said the
fuel component of the fare was only 9.7 percent of the total cost
of the business.
"This small percentage won't effect the fare significantly.
Perhaps we can increase the fare slightly to cover the fuel
hike," he said.
Sayogo, who chairs the City Council's Commission D on
Development Affairs, proposed a hike from Rp 300 to Rp 500 for
regular buses.
Chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Land Transportation
Owners Association (Organda) Aip Syaifuddin proposed an increase
for regular buses of Rp 800.
Several fuel stations have reportedly refused the system as it
would add an additional task in cashing the coupons. (nvn)