CAGAYAN VALLEY, Philippines- The representative of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya filed a resolution calling for investigation in aid of legislation the alleged discrimination of private bus companies plying Cagayan Valley region.
Congressman Luisa Cuaresma called for the investigation as she received complaints that bus companies would not accept reservation from Nueva Vizcaya-bound passengers, to give priority to Isabela and Cagayan-bound passengers, who usually pay higher fares.
As a result, the “discriminated” passengers would wait as chance passengers instead.
In her resolution, Cuaresma said public transports are under obligation to carry any passenger regardless of destination.
“They could not refuse passengers simply because their prospective destinations is very near, or that it would be less profitable for them,” Cuaresma said.
“There is need to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation to discover the truth about such illegal and discriminatory practice to protect public interest and for possible enactment of legislation that will impose more severe sanctions against common carriers that engage in these practices,” she added.
In a Facebook post, Cuaresma’s son Benjamin encouraged passengers who experienced such practice of bus companies to email their complaint to n501inthehouse@gmail.com.
Amid the call for probe, some passengers also complained of lack of enough bus terminals in the province.
This measure, according to them, will solve the problem as bus companies are specifically bound for Nueva Vizcaya.
