Owners of buses want fare increase

Bus operators in Cebu province have submitted a petition to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 for an increase in fare rates.

The operators want an increase of P4 in the fare for the first five kilometers. So, from the P6 at present, it would now be P10.

From P1.20 for every succeeding kilometer, the operators want it to be P1.50.

Julito Flores, vice president of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, said they haven’t increased their fare for the past 16 years, and the fare adjustments that they have implemented were all fare reduction, since they didn’t want to burden the riding public.

But the series of increases in the prices of fuel and maintenance parts for buses is making life difficult for them, so they need an increase in the fares.

Flores said they won’t hesitate to ask for a fare increase since most of their units have been upgraded or are brand new, and they have been following the guidelines of the government in relation to the safety of passengers.

“Di na gyud makaya. Sa niaging mga tuig naghisgot mi sa pagsaka sa presyo sa krudo. So we agreed that if the price of fuel reaches P50 per liter, automatic gyod mi mo-file og petition for fare increase. So karon, ang krudo naa na man sa P53, based sa Carcar nga rate, kay Carcar man ta magpatubil, di sa syudad, angayan na gyod mi mangayo’g umento (It’s too hard now. We agreed two years ago that if the price of fuel reaches P50 per liter, we will file a petition for increase),” Flores said.

Flores asked the riding public to understand.

“We hope the riding public will understand. We cannot survive with the present fare rates,” Flores said.

After paying the filing fees yesterday morning, the group handed over their petition to LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr., who expressed appreciation that the group didn’t resort to a strike to push their demand.