Cebu South Bus Terminal Gov implements 100% increase in bus fees

CEBU, Philippines - The Economic Enterprise Council has finally decided to implement the 100 percent increase or the P200 fee per trip for buses and mini-buses at the Cebu South Bus Terminal in lieu of the scrapping of the P5 passenger’s terminal fee which took effect last October 31.

This was announced yesterday by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in response to the request of the Cebu Bus Operators Association and Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association to only collect 30 percent increase for the buses instead of the 100 percent it has implemented starting this month while 20 percent for the mini-buses.

Garcia conveyed the opinion of the EEC, which she chairs, that in the past five years, no increase was made for the P100 fee since 2007.

She pointed out that between 2007 and 2012, a big improvement in the facility was made which takes a lot to maintain.

“If you are asking for 20 percent increase, then in five years kung 20 percent per year that’s equivalent to 100 percent,” Garcia explained.

While the 20 percent would be a reasonable increase, Garcia stressed that no increase was imposed in the past five years.

“Think of the opportunity and income lost within those five years nga wa gyud ta’y increase, (…that we did not increase fees,)” Garcia said, adding that the province has invested heavily in the facility.

“I think and I hope that the bus operators will understand,” Garcia said.

Garcia also assured the riding public that the increase of terminal fee will not be passed on to them contrary to threats by some operators that they might be forced to file a petition for fare increase before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should their requests be denied.

Garcia said that the bus operators did not even implement the rates set by LTFRB because they wanted the fare to be cut down.

“Tungod kay ato naman ning gi-increase ang terminal fee, basin mopatoo na ang tanan bus drivers ug bus operators sa eksakto nga pletehan. (Now that we increased the terminal fee, maybe all bus drivers and operators will now follow and collect the correct fare rates)”, Garcia said.

The bus and mini-bus operators in Cebu earlier requested Garcia to reduce the parking fee collected from them at the CSBT.

Bus operators threatened to increase their fare if the EEC denies their request to recover the parking fee, which is P200 per entry.

They might ask for the reinstatement of the P8.50 minimum fare for the first five kilometers and P1.45 for succeeding kilometer.

Bus operators are currently charging P6.00 minimum fare for the first five kilometers and P1.20 for succeeding kilometer. The special rate was implemented last year upon the request of Garcia in behalf of the commuters.

Garcia however warned the bus and mini bus operators that they cannot just increase their fare.

The Capitol started implementing the 100 percent increase in the parking fee on November 1 after lifting the P5 terminal fee for the passengers.

The Capitol also restored the P5 fee for the use of the comfort rooms in the terminal.

—(FREEMAN)