Cibao transporters postpone fare hike after opening dialogue with Intrant
The transport sector in the northern region of the country has decided to pause the planned increase in passenger fares. This decision comes after the outreach from the new executive director of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant), retired General Juan Manuel Méndez, who summoned the union representatives to a dialogue table scheduled for this Wednesday.
Gervasio de la Rosa, who presides over the Dominican Transport Consortium and the Federation of Transport Workers of the Northern Region (Fetranreno), confirmed that the measure was suspended pending the results of this meeting at the regulatory body’s headquarters.
As of today, we are revoking the increase until we meet with the director of Intrant. After speaking with him, we will determine what we are going to do.
Gervasio de la Rosa, president of Fetranreno.
Demands and key points of the sector
De la Rosa emphasized that the sector is not seeking to make an arbitrary adjustment, but rather that the intention responds to the economic pressure derived from high operating costs, the decrease in the number of passengers, and the constant traffic jams that affect the profitability of urban and interurban routes.
- Request for a technical cost and feasibility study conducted by Intrant to update fares.
- Demand for the extension and permanence of subsidies granted to transport workers.
- Demand for inclusion in pension and social security programs, a request pending for two years.
- Proposal to increase the current subsidy to RD$5,000 and extend its reach to a greater number of drivers.
The transport leader expressed his support for Juan Manuel Méndez’s management at the head of Intrant, showing a collaborative attitude to find joint solutions to the problems affecting mobility in the Cibao region.
For the moment, public transport users in the northern zone can remain calm, as current fares will remain in effect. The outcome regarding a possible readjustment is subject to the agreements reached during this week’s meeting between union leaders and transport authorities.
