TRANSPORTATION Citrasco to amend fare hike petition

The Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (Citrasco) will amend their petition for a fare increase after a group of commuters and the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) Cebu opposed the proposed scheme to collect the P1.50 fare increase only during peak hours.

This was raised during the public hearing yesterday conducted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 on Citrasco’s petition held at the Cebu Normal University.

Citrasco wants a P1.50 increase in the fare for public utility jeepneys from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. only.

Among the grounds for the demand are the oil price hike and the heavy traffic congestion in Metro Cebu, resulting in the drivers’ failure to meet their boundary.

But Piston and a group of commuters are opposed to the scheme, as this may only create confusion and argument between the passengers and the drivers or conductors.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, Citrasco chairman, said that he will meet with his members and tackle the supplemental petition. This time, though, they will ask for an increase between P.50 and P1 on top of the existing regular P6.50 fare, regardless of the time.

Piston Cebu, for its part, wants LTFRB to impose the provisional P.50 increase.

LTFRB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon yesterday said that another hearing will be called for Citrasco’s amended petition. This will also give other transport groups a chance to present their petition.

The group wants a P1.50 increase on the regular fare and another P1.50 increase during peak hours. /