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Saturday, November 12, 2005
Jingjing sets bus fare hike
The “reasonable” fare rate for non-aircon buses is P5 for the first five kilometers and P1 for every succeeding kilometer, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 said in an order.
However, the order signed by LTFRB 7 Director Rogelio “Jingjing” Osmeña still has to be submitted for approval to the LTFRB en banc, led by Ma. Elena Bautista, with board members Gerardo Pinili and Ma. Ellen Dirige Cabatu.
Osmeña’s order was in response to a petition dated Aug. 17, 2005, filed by the Cebu Provincial Government, Association of Concerned Commuters and Consumers of Cebu (AC3) and the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators’ Association (CPBOA).
These groups have asked LTFRB to reduce the fare rates to P5.50 for the first five kilometers and P0.85 per subsequent kilometer.
The petition stemmed from the decision of the LTFRB en banc, dated last July 6, raising the bus fares to P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.30 per subsequent kilometer.
Lower, please
The petitioners described this as “too much,” considering that the fare collected at that time was P5 for the first five kilometers and P0.72 per succeeding kilometer.
“It appears that the operators of Bohol and Oriental Negros prefer a higher, albeit reduced fare rate than the operators of Cebu,” Osmeña stated in his order.
Osmeña said their survey in Oriental Negros and Bohol suggested that P5 as minimum fare and P1 per succeeding kilometer is more reasonable than the petitioners’ proposal.
Compromise
That proposal is “very much lower” than the authorized rate imposed in 2004, which pegged the fares at P6 for the first five kilometers and P1.10 per succeeding kilometer.
“With the latest increase (July 6 order), which the LTFRB found to be impressed with merit, the gap between the proposed reduction and the current authorized rate has grown even wider. There is a need therefore to strike a balance to arrive at a reasonable and fair reduced rate,” the order read.
Osmeña said the bus operators can collect the new rate, provided they secure a new LTFRB tariff matrix. (EOB)
(November 12, 2005 issue)
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