Capitol, bus operators agree to reduce fare

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu provincial government and the groups of bus and mini-bus operators yesterday signed an agreement to reduce the fare rates in the province.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III signed the agreement on behalf of the province.

The other signatories are the presidents of Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, Cebu North Mini-Bus Operators Association, Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association, and the Carmen Drivers and Operators Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The bus operators have agreed to reduce the minimum fare to P5 from the current P6 for the first five kilometers.

The rate for every succeeding kilometer would also be reduced from P1.20 to P1.

The Provincial Board last week granted Davide the authority to enter into an agreement with bus operators.

“The implementation of a discounted fare rate would be a socially responsible act and financially beneficial to the riding public,” read a portion of the MOA.

In 2008, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board pegged the bus and mini bus fares in Cebu at P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.40 for every the succeeding kilometer.

Julieto Flores, president of the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association, said they opted to reduce the fare rates following the oil price rollbacks since 2011.

“While nakapahimulos mi sa pag-ubos sa krudo, makapahimulos pod ang atong riding public. Sa whole Philippines, one in a million ra ni nga ang mga operator maoy mahimong petitioner sa fare reduction,” he told reporters.

He, however, said once the fuel price hikes again, they would file another petition for reinstatement of the fare rates.

LTFRB-7 director Reynaldo Elnar said the provisions in the MOA will be implemented once it gets approval from the LTFRB head office in Manila.

Davide, in a separate interview, said this would serve as Christmas gift from the bus operators.

“Nalipay ta sa initiative sa mga bus operators gikan gyod nila,” he said. — /FPL (FREEMAN)