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Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Southern Cebu commuters to start paying lower fares on Thursday
Starting Aug. 25, fare rates of mini buses plying the southern route will be lower than what is being collected now.
Mini bus drivers will be collecting P5.50 for the first five kilometers and P0.85 for every succeeding kilometer, as agreed in a meeting with operators, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
The rates are the same as the ones being collected by the buses using the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
Mini buses will also be issuing tickets to commuters effective Sept. 1.
At present, minibus drivers are collecting P6 rate for the first five kilometers and P1.10 for each succeeding kilometer.
But in yesterday’s meeting, the 38 operators agreed to collect a discounted fare rate.
LTFRB 7 Director Rogelio Osmeña, LTO 7 Alex Leyson and members of the Association of Concerned Consumers and Commuters were present during the meeting.
The operators also signed a memorandum of agreement and commitment, which will be used as supporting document for their petition before LTFRB in Manila.
The Province had to petition LTFRB to make the new rates legal.
No overloading
Also during the meeting, Garcia warned the operators to avoid overloading.
Minibuses will be inspected every time they leave the South Bus Terminal to make sure they are not overloading.
Garcia also announced yesterday the creation of Task Force Bantay Pasahe, which will be composed of the operators, representatives from the commuting public, and local town officials.
The task force will do the monitoring to make sure the new rates are implemented.
Garcia has instructed the Provincial Attorney’s Office to draft sanctions to be imposed on buses and mini buses that will violate the agreement.
Garcia may not allow violators to continue using the South Bus Terminal.
Also yesterday, the first set of officers of the newly organized association of bus operators took their oath of office before Garcia.
Two weeks ago, Garcia told them to organize, or she will no longer allow mini buses to use the terminal, which is owned by the Province. (MBG)
(August 23, 2005 issue)
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