BUS operators in Cebu finally agreed yesterday to impose a common fare rate of P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.20 for every succeeding kilometer.
The amount is lower than the official rate of P9 for the first five kilometers plus P1.40 per succeeding kilometer, as approved recently by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Nicolas Villahermosa, president of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association (CPBOA), said the agreement that was approved by all bus operators who attended yesterday’s meeting at LTFRB 7 will stop cut-throat competition.
“We will no more allow undercharging,” Villahermosa said.
Villahermosa requested for yesterday morning’s meeting with LTFRB 7 Director Romulo Bernardes after Clemente Villarin of Ceres Bus Corp. said they will not agree to a common fare rate unless everybody will follow what has been agreed by the majority.
Villarin recalled that a few years ago, they came up with a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in a meeting with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia stating that they will collect P1 per succeeding kilometer on top of the P6 minimum fare.
Initial agreement
However, Villarin said that some of them did not follow the MOA and proceeded to collect P0.40 to P0.60 per kilometer.
Villahermosa said the common fare of P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.20 per succeeding kilometer will take effect tomorrow, July 24.
Meanwhile, Richard Cabucos, chairman of the Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association (MCTOA), said they will start collecting the additional fare of P10 as long as they will receive the sticker from the LTFRB.
Cabucos said that the LTFRB will maintain the policy of “no sticker, no increase.”
He added that the stickers will arrive from Manila either tomorrow or Friday.
Cabucos said the LTFRB will impose a fee of P520 for the first unit and P100 for every succeeding unit; the fees shall be per case number and not by operator.
“If one case number of an operator has nine units, he has to pay P920,” Cabucos said. (EOB)
