THE Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association (CPBOA) wants the fare for the first five kilometers set at P11.45 and P1.55 for every succeeding kilometer.
But Julie Flores, chairman of the Cebu Provincial Bus and Mini Bus Operators Cooperative (CPBMBOC), said he doesn’t want the increase to be very high because of the unstable prices of petroleum products.
Flores wants the fare for the first five kms. at P10 for buses and mini-buses and P1.50 for every succeeding km.
“Ang ako untang gusto nga gamay ra akong pangayoon nga increase sa pletihan para di mabug-atan ang mga sumasakay, luoy ang mga pasahero (I don’t want a huge increase because it will be too much for the riding public),” Flores told Superbalita Cebu yesterday. Flores said she will ask the big bus companies to submit their own petition to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for a fare increase because her petition is only for her own group, the CPBMBOC.
“Para walay misunderstanding nga mahitabo (This is to avoid misunderstanding),” Flores said.
But Richard Corominas, president of CPBOA, said they propose a bigger fare increase because LTFRB will have to adjust it anyway.
Corominas said bus fares have to increase because of the high price of fuel, spare parts, tires, lubricants and other items for maintenance because of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law.
“Swerte na gani kaayo kanang sumasakay sa Cebu province sa pila ka tuig gud nag-us-os sa pletihan gud. Di na lang sad diay nila patilawon ang operator og ginansiya, sa expense of the operator nga di na ka-maintain (The riding public in the province are better off because we’ve been lowering fares for the past years),” Corominas said in a separate interview.
He said their recommendation for the first five kms. is P.50 lower than that of bus operators in Luzon. For every succeeding km., their proposal is P.30 lower, he said. For air-conditioned buses, the increase is 20 percent higher than that of ordinary buses. At present, the bus fare for the first five kilometers is P8 and P1.40 for every succeeding km., while the mini-buses collect P6 for the first five km. and P1.20 for every succeeding km.
Last February, the Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association, Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas and Samahang Transportn Operators ng Pilipinas filed a petition with LTFRB for a minimum fare of P13.30 for ordinary buses from the present P10, and P2.45 for every succeeding km.
For air-conditioned buses, they want P15.95 minimum fare from the present P12 and P2.95 for every succeeding km.
For provincial buses, they proposed P11.95 for the first five kms. from the present P9, and P2.95 for every succeeding km. (SCG)