Bus fare hike petition meets no opposition

CEBU, Philippines — The P4 fare hike petition filed by the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association and the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association has met no opposition during the public hearing conducted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas yesterday.

The hearing was attended by the bus and mini-bus operators. No representative from the commuters attended the public hearing.

CPBOA and CSMBOA earlier filed a joint petition for fare increase citing series of fuel price increases. The operators asked that the minimum fare of P6 be raised to P10 for the first five kilometers and P1.50 for every succeeding kilometer from P1.20.

Julieto Flores, CPBOA spokesman and CSMBOA president, said it has been a long time since they asked for fare increase. Flores said that the last time they asked for fare increase was in 2008 when the diesel price was still at around P20 per liter. "Karon kay hapit na P50 ang matag litro sa diesel. Mao na nga kami nanghinaot nga aprobahan gyud sa LTFRB ang among petisyon," Flores said.

LTFRB-7 hearing officer Atty. Edwin Antepuesto has given the petitioners 15 days to submit a manifesto and other pertinent documents to support their petition. Antepuesto said the documents will be forwarded to Manila which will have the final decision.

Richard Corominas, CPBOA president, said the P4 increase they are asking is not excessive considering that majority of their units are brand new and equipped with high tech gadgets.

"We asked for understanding among the passengers kay taas na gyud kaayo ang presyo sa krudo ron as compared in 2008," said Corominas. — FPL (FREEMAN)