Operators to 'resurrect' hike petition

CEBU, Philippines - Taxi operators in Cebu are now planning to “resurrect” their petition to increase taxi fares amidst the rising costs of fuel including the auto-liquified petroleum gas.

Richard Cabucos, president of the Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association, said that they have no choice but to re-file their petition now that fuel prices are increasing.

The Philippine National Taxi Operators Association, including MCTOA, filed a fare hike petition last March 6, asking for a P10 increase making taxi flagdown rates P50 from the current P40 rate and another P1 on the succeeding kilometer, from the current P3.50 to P4.50. 

However, taxi operators opted to file a “motion to archive” their petition amidst the reduction in the prices of fuel last month.

The price of auto-LPG when they filed their petition last March was pegged at P47 per liter but in June, the price of auto-LPG dipped to P36 per liter. Cabucos said that the current price of auto-LPG is already at P37 per liter and is expected to increase in the coming days. When auto-LPG was first used in 2004, it was only P18 per liter.

Cabucos said that 75 percent of the 6,050 taxi units in Cebu are using auto-LPG.     - THE FREEMAN