Don Mariano bus drivers work 19 hours a day
By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 12/17/2013 1:01 PM | Updated as of 12/17/2013 6:51 PM
MANILA – Bus drivers of Don Mariano Transit Corp. work up to 19 hours a day to reach their daily "boundary" of P12,500, so they can have enough money to bring home to their families.
Speaking to radio dzMM, an unidentified Don Mariano bus driver said he is required to earn P12,500 per day, 10% of which goes to him.
"Alis kami dito ng alas-4 ng madaling araw, kasi Pacita ang byahe namin. Kailangan mabuo namin iyun mga bandang alas-10 ng gabi, kasi gagarahe na kami alas-11… Pagdating sa Pacita, pahinga ng sandali, balik na naman, kakain sa garahe, tapos babalik ulit. Mga isang oras, kalahating oras ang pahinga. Sa akin lang sanay na sanay na ako," the driver said.
"Yung P12,500 na yun, may P1,250 kami doon. Tapos yung kaltas, mga P200 mahigit, may matitira sa amin mga P900, tapos pagkain, kaya P700 [ang naiuuwi] kapag quota lang kami."
The driver said it would be better if the drivers receive regular salaries instead of commissions.
"Gusto namin kasi trabaho ang hanap namin talaga eh. Mas maganda iyung arawan para wala kang hinahabol na oras," he said.
Another driver, meanwhile, said they sometimes resort to doing more trips during a slow day just to reach the earnings quota. He added that they consume energy drinks or coffee to get through the day.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has imposed a 30-day preventive suspension for all of Don Mariano Transit Corp.'s 78 units after one of their buses fell off the Skyway in Paranaque City on Monday, killing 18 people.
The suspension leaves the company's bus drivers, conductors and other employees without sources of income for the Christmas season.
Skyway officials earlier blamed the Don Mariano bus driver for speeding on the elevated highway, noting that the bus was travelling at 120kph before the accident.
They also noted that the bus unit already had worn-out tires.
– report from Johnson Manabat, dzMM