Bus operators to cut fare if diesel price drops to P35

CEBU, Philippines - Amidst reduction in the prices of fuel, mini-bus and bus operators will reduce fare once the price of diesel goes down to P35 per liter.

“Basta mo abot na og P35 pet liter ang presyo sa diesel, automatic paubsan namo ang pletehan sa mini-bus ug dinhi sa Cebu,” said Julieto Flores, spokesperson of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association.

At present, the price of diesel is P36.75 per liter.

Flores, the president of the Cebu South Mini-bus Operators Association, said he himself will file a fare reduction petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 to bring the fare down to P5 from the current P6 for the first five kilometers. The fare for succeeding kilometers would also be reduced by to P1 from the current P1.20.

LTFRB-7 Director Rey Elnar said a public hearing with all parties concerned, especially the commuters, will be scheduled.

“So far wa pa may ni file of petition to reduce fare whether bus or jeepney,” Elnar said.

Earlier, the National Confederation of Transportworkers Unions-Central Visayas said it will not oppose any petition to reduce fare provided oil companies will assure that prices of fuel will remain the same in the next three months.

Romeo Armamento, NCTU-Central Visayas national vice president said that based on previous experiences, adjustment in the price of fuel usually occurs during December due to huge demand worldwide.

It can be recalled that when prices of fuel starts to increase, Cebu-based transport cooperative CITRASCO opted to withdraw the petition it filed sometime in March 2014 to increase jeepney fare by P2.50 with an appeal for LTFRB to strenghten its campaign versus anti-colorum and out-of-line vehicles. —  (FREEMAN)