No increase in bus fares yet - LTFRB

CEBU, Philippines — Bus and minibus fare in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas remain the same contrary to reports that the fare hike petition was provisionally approved already.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 Director Eduardo Montealto said that they have not decided on the petition yet as they are still gathering data from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) considering the erratic prices of petroleum products.

Montealto said fare hike petitions filed by different transport groups all over the country are still under study by the technical working group and they are still coming up with a formula on fare matrix in the event of fuel price hikes and rollbacks.

 Julieto Flores, spokesperson of Cebu Bus Operators Association (CBOA) and president of Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association (CSMBOA), said that their fare remains the same.

 "Wala man mi nag increase sa among pletehan. In fact, amoa na baya to gi defer among petition pag December. Pero og aprubahan sa LTFRB ang among petition kay mo implement ra pud mi," said Flores.  (We have not increased our fare.  We have even deferred our petition last December.  If LTFRB approves the petition, then we will implement.)

CBOA and CSMBOA have filed a joint fare hike petition last year and asked for the P4 increase – from P6 to P10 – for the first five kilometers, and another .30 centavos – from P1.20 to P1.50 – for the succeeding kilometer.

They cited in their petition the increasing prices of fuel and spare parts.

To recall, Cebu bus operators increased their bus fare on February 1, 2018 to P6 from P5 for the first five kilometers and to P1.20 from P1 for every succeeding kilometer.

The increase in February, however, was way below than what was approved by LTFRB in 2008, which was P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.45 for the succeeding kilometers.

Due to cutthroat competition and an appeal by former Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the Cebu bus operators and the Cebu provincial government signed a memorandum of agreement to reduce the bus fare.

Since 2008 up to January 31, 2018, the bus operators collected only P5 for the first five kilometers and P1 for the succeeding meters, which was way below compared to the LTFRB approved bus fare. — MBG (FREEMAN)