Bus operators defer fare hike

CEBU, Philippines — Bus and mini-bus operators in Cebu have decided to give an early Christmas gift to the Cebuano commuting public by not pursuing their petition to increase its respective fare, at least as of yet.

Earlier, the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association (CPBOA) and Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association (CSMBOA) jointly filed a petition for a fare increase last October before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7.

The said petition covers the entire Central Visayas.

CPBOA and CSMBOA have asked for an increase of P4 which is from P6 to P10 for the first five kilometers and another .30 cents which is from P1.20 to P1.50 for the next succeeding kilometer.

"We have decided nga i-defer lang sa namo ang among petition kay niubos na man ang presyo sa krudo," Julieto Flores, CPBOA Spokesman and CSMBOA President said yesterday.

Flores, however, said they are not withdrawing its petition.

"Dili lang namo i-withdraw ang among petition aron og mosaka na sad ang presyo sa krudo, nara na nganha among petition," Flores said.

The petition to increase bus and mini-bus fare meted no opposition during last month's public hearing held at the regional office of LTFRB-7.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Eduardo Montealto said that they will either dismiss or archive the petition after the petitioners did not submit the documentary evidences justifying their fare increase petition.

"They were given 15 days after the public hearing to submit their documentary evidences but the 15 days have already lapsed last Friday," Montealto said.

Montealto also clarified that the order to rollback jeepney fare is only applicable to the National Capital Region, Region 3 and Region 4.

"Walay labot ang Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas sa jeepney fare rollback. Applicable ra ni sa mga regions nga gi grant og P1 farehike two months ago," Montealto said. (FREEMAN)