Friday, May 30, 2008 LTFRB seeks autonomy to increase fare in Cebu
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 asked their central office that they be given autonomy to decide on any provisional fare increase as a result of the continuing oil price increases in the world market.
LTFRB 7 Director Romulo Bernardes said LTFRB is also looking for ways, such as financial assistance or loan facility, for jeepney operators who want to convert their units from gasoline-feed to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is cheaper and economical.
“Imagine, just recently, the multi-national oil companies increase the fuel price by P1.50. By June, I think the price of diesel will be P50 per liter”, Bernardes said.
He said Cebu’s transport groups are calling him, requesting for assistance so they can survive in the skyrocketing prices of fuel.
The P0.50 provisional fare increase, which was implemented last May 21 has no impact because of the P1.50 fuel price increase early this week, said Bernardes.
Consultation
He said the transport groups are planning to amend their petition of P1.50 fare increase to P2.50.
“I told them that I will ask the LTFRB central office to give power to the regional office to decide on provisional increase. But with consultation with local officials, the consumers’ groups and the people at-large,” Bernardes said.
The minimum fare in Metro Manila is now P8.50 while it’s only P6.50 in Cebu, including the recently granted P0.50 provisional increase.
Because Cebu leaders know what the ideal fare is, any increase must be left to the decision of LTFRB 7, in consultation with Cebu leaders, he said.
Bernardes also announced that LTFRB 7 has implemented the garage-to-terminal (GT) program where V-Hire can only transport passengers from their garage to their terminals.
“All v-hire operators must now convert their units to GT Express based on the memorandum issued by LTFRB two years ago but is being implemented in Central Visayas only now,” Bernardes said.
He said that after receiving the Road Measurement Capacity (RMC), which was approved by the LTFRB, the Board has given him the go-signal to implement the GT Express program.
Authority
In the GT Express, if a unit is authorized to ply in the Danao City-Cebu City route, it cannot pick up passengers in between to prevent them from competing with passenger buses.
“They can drop off passengers, but cannot pick up passengers,” Bernardes said, adding that operators and drivers must follow otherwise they will be penalized and fined.
He estimated more than 1,000 v-hire units operating in Central Visayas, majority of which are plying in Cebu. (EOB)
