CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Bus and Mini Bus Operators Cooperative (CPBMBOC), in a meeting attended by 40 operators yesterday, have decided to maintain the current bus and mini bus fare rates until such time diesel prices will reach P37 per liter.
"Magpabilin lang sa nga ubos ang pletehan sa bus ug mini bus. Pero og moabot na gani nga tag P37.00 kada litro na ang krudo, dako ang posibilidad nga e-reinstate namo ang plete nga gi-aprub sa LTFRB," said Julieto Flores, CPBMBOC chairman.
Current diesel price is at P34 per liter.
In 2010, Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved bus fares of P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.45 for each succeeding kilometer.
To date, due to stiff competition, bus operators are implementing fare rates of P5 for the first five kilometers and P1 for each succeeding kilometers.
"Mao na ang na desisyunan namo sa among meeting nga status quo lang sa kay medyo makaya pa ang presyo sa krudo," said Flores.
The lower rates for bus and mini-bus fares was also a result of a memorandum of agreement entered by bus operators and former governor Gwendolyn Garcia to reduce the fare to P6 for the first five kilometers and P1.20 for the succeeding kilometer in 2010.
In January 2014, the fare for the first five kilometers was further reduced to P5 and the succeeding kilometer was reduced further to P1 under a separate agreement with Governor Hilario Davide III. (FREEMAN)