Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Minister of Transport, urged to prioritize more fuel for state public transport and, at the same time, to ensure certain resources for private carriers, as the only way to protect prices, during the balance assembly of the MITRANS System Cooperation Council in Las Tunas.
The Minister emphasized that passenger transport is in a very complex moment because of the insufficient supply of hydrocarbons, and therefore, the main state public services are very reduced, assumed by private carriers, MSMEs, and leased vehicles, with prices above the objective needs and possibilities of the population.
“We know that how the service is being provided does not satisfy the population and generates inconvenience," said Rodríguez Dávila. “What we have done, as an alternative to improve the technical availability of the means of transport: leasing must be limited with regulation, with price and route agreements so that there is truly a quality service.”
"We have heard here that there are private carriers that provide services to the population, in many cases without proper organization; they pass by the stops and do not pick up passengers, it is up to the Transport Directorate in the province to address this situation critically and resolve it. The problem is complex, but we convey to the people our intention to have a direct impact on the issue to improve it.”
Among the issues addressed at the working meeting, it was analyzed that, in general, passenger transport in 2023 was at 30.9 percent, which translates into a reduction of 6.1 percent of the service. The causes were due to poor technical availability of vehicles, coupled with untimely distribution of fuel.
The municipal structures detailed the problems they face with the supply of batteries, tires, and above all the limitation of hydrocarbons to maintain the service vital to the provincial capital and the distribution of the basic food basket.
Héctor Ayala, a representative of the sector in Majibacoa, shared the tense situation they face daily. He pointed out that the basic food basket used to be distributed only one day a month, but now it is distributed four or five days a month. Concerning wheat flour, instead of the five trips that were made in previous years, they now make around fifteen, and the extra cost of fuel absorbs the scarce availability they have.
The need to guarantee the resources to keep the two boats that guarantee the influx of holidaymakers to the beach of Puerto Padre vital was discussed in depth. The directors of the sector commented that during 2023 they managed to repair one of the boats and they were in favor of ensuring that the service is maintained throughout the year.
The deterioration of the roads was one of the most debated topics, particularly in Las Tunas soil, which limits the number of buses that cannot reach certain destinations due to the poor state of the roads. The municipality of Amancio Rodríguez stood out as one of the areas with the most problems in this respect.
Cesar Góngora, a non-state worker, called for dialogue with the new economic actors to achieve prices that are profitable but not abusive. "It is not a matter of imposing, but of showing them through cost sheets that electric vehicles can have an impact with cheaper prices.
The head of the sector said that the new transport structure must dictate the rules and see that they are complied with. He called for the process of agreeing new prices for non-state actors, which should come into force in March, to be conducted.
He also insisted that freight wagons should not circulate empty and that strategies and linkages should be achieved to make rational use of resources. The possibility of further strengthening the rail service, including in urban transport, was also analyzed.
Las Tunas transport operators face the challenge of finding alternatives to grow in a context of marked economic tensions. The working meeting was also an opportunity to recognize the sector, which continues to overcome difficulties to guarantee the people a more efficient service.