Bus operators won’t increase fares next year

MANILA, Philippines - Provincial buses will not hike fares despite a possible rise in toll at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), South Luzon Expressway and the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) next year.

The Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) yesterday assured chairman Winston Ginez of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that they will follow the provisional authority issued last May 17, 2008 fixing provincial bus fare at P9 for the first five kilometers and an additional P1.40 per kilometer for ordinary, non-air-conditioned buses.

Regular air-conditioned bus fares are pegged at P9 per kilometer plus P1.80 per succeeding kilometer, air-conditioned deluxe at P1.70 per kilometer, and luxury buses at P2.25 per kilometer, PBOAP added.

The PBOAP said these have been the provincial bus fares since 2008 and remain unchanged in spite of the rise in toll, fluctuations in diesel oil prices, skyrocketing maintenance costs and inflation.

Alex Yague, PBOAP executive director, said bus companies have chosen to shoulder the rising costs of motor oil and motor parts for the past six years.

The price of motor oil has risen from P86 per liter to P132 per liter in 2014, he added.

Prices of tires and other spare parts have increased  by 38 percent from 2008 to 2014, he said.

Yague said provincial bus operators have spent enormous sums in the installation of Global Positioning Systems, speed limiters and other accessories in their units to improve safety and security of passengers.