Transport group claims: Low pump rates not reason for fare slide

CEBU, Philippines - Fuel prices continue to fall but for transport leaders, this is not enough reason for automatic reduction in jeepneys fares.

“We will welcome if ever there will be consumer groups in Cebu that will file a petition lowering the fare. But such petition has to go through a process,” said Romeo Armamento, national vice president of the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union-Central Visayas.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, president and general manager of the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-purpose Cooperative, said based on experience, the moment prices of fuel increase and they file a petition to increase fare, it would take time for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to approve it.

“Atong makita nga ang presyo sa lana bisan niubos na karon, but last week nisaka na. Moubos, mosaka ang presyo sa lana,” said Yu, whose cooperative owns at least 1,000 jeepney units traversing Metro Cebu.

A consumer’s group in Manila has recently filed a 50-centavo reduction in jeepney fare.

Julieto Flores, spokesperson of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, said they too will not seek for fare reduction as for the past several years they have been allegedly undercharging their fare.

Flores, who is also the president of the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association, said current price of diesel per liter in Carcar City, which is their basis, is P38.75 per liter from P48 per liter.

Currently, bus and mini-bus operators are allegedly undercharging their passengers by collecting only P6 for the first five kilometers and P1.20 for the next kilometers citing stiff competition.

LTFRB approved bus and mini-bus fare few years ago at P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.45 for the next kilometers.

Flores said that if diesel fuel reached P50 per liter, they will be forced to implement the fare as approved by LTFRB.

But if the price of diesel per liter will reach P35 per liter, they will further lower their fares, from P60 to P5 for the first five kilometers and from P1.20 to P1 for the succeeding kilometers.

“Yes, that is our commitment nga kung muabot sa P35 per liter ang diesel, paus-usan namo ang among pletehan,” Flores added.

Armamento added that they will not oppose any petition for jeepney fare reduction provided that there will be an assurance from oil companies that there will be no oil price movement in the next three months from the time a fare reduction is heard. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMD (FREEMAN)