Limitation in urban transportation.
The “Cuidad de Loja” Transport Consortium announced that, starting Monday, January 29, 2024, they will work until 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. —because the resources for the purchase of fuel are not sufficient. They continue to request the rate increase.
Circumstances
Jorge Herrera Macas, president of the Consortium, mentioned that the 4 operators have actually joined this measure: 24 de Mayo, Cuxibamba, Urba Sur and Urba Express, in the face of the economic crisis they are going through -due to the increase in the value of fuel-, In this case diesel, the main input to carry out its work.
“This increase from USD 1 to 1.75 has caused the basic basket of spare parts: tires, leaf springs, among others, to rise in price; In this sense, from October 13, 2021 to date, more than 27 letters have been submitted requesting an increase in the rate, but they have not been attended to, despite the fact that the rule stipulates that it must be analyzed every 2 years,” he said.
Because there was no response, in March 2023, the carriers filed a protective action and on October 15, 2023 it was accepted; giving the Municipality of Loja 90 days to resolve the request. The deadline expired on January 16, 2024 and the local City Council has not yet resolved the problem.
Resolution
“As a Consortium, we have decided to provide the service to the extent that the fuel at the previous price, which was USD 1, is enough, that is, if before they worked with 20 to 23 gallons per day at an approximate cost of USD 20, on this occasion they will make the trips with the same value,” he said.
He added that it is not a matter of any stoppage of activities, but that they will provide the service until they consume all the fuel. “We will normally leave with shifts in the morning hours; However, that amount would reach us until 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m., then we would suspend the service until the next day and so on they will work until the issue of the rate is reviewed. “We cannot continue waiting any longer,” he said.
For their part, Loja citizens rejected the measure that the transporters plan to implement. “We do not have vehicles to travel to our homes – every day in the afternoon – after this protest begins, so before making this decision they should have socialized with the users, who will be affected,” added a neighbor. (YO)
Transporters request an increase in the fare to 35 cents.
The analysis of the rate passed the first debate in the Council and there is already a report from the Transit Commission.
Given
More than 230 units will stop working after 3:00 p.m. next Monday.
I like this:
I like Loading…