Transport group not keen on new fare hike

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the rising cost of fuel, transport group in Cebu is still in a quandary whether or not to seek for another round of fare increase considering that their 2009 petition has not been upon by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board until now.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, chairman of the Cebu Integrated Transport Services Cooperative (CITRASCO), said that they still have a pending fare hike petition that was filed in 2009 which was not decided until now.

Yu said that the LTFRB did not rule on their petition but instead granted a provisional P1 increase for Central Visayas early this year.

The provisional increase has raised the minimum jeepney fare from P6.50 to P7.50.

In August 2009, CITRASCO and the Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Drayber-Operator Alang sa Reporma filed a petition for P1.50 fare hike citing the rising cost of fuel prices and spare parts.

“Kadtong amoang 2009 petition, wala pa gyud nay desisyon sa LTFRB. So, kung mo file mi ug laing fare hike petition karon, basin ma technical mi,” Yu said in an interview.

There are around 10,000 jeepney units in Central Visayas majority of which are in Cebu. — (FREEMAN)