No ferry, bus fare hike on Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines — Ferry and bus fares will not be increased this Holy Week, President Marcos told Bloomberg on Tuesday.

“We’ve gotten commitments from (operators of) ferries that they will not raise their fares. We’re doing the same thing with buses. They will not raise their fares nor will they limit or cut down the trips they will be taking,” Marcos said.

“We’re doing everything we can so the riding public, the general public, the people who are working, the middle class – they are the ones we are most concerned about – so it does not become a drag to their livelihoods,” he added.

Amid soaring fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict, Marcos said the government has been providing subsidies primarily to the transport sector “because these are the workers who will be most affected.”

Fuel subsidies and cash aid are being distributed to operators and drivers of public utility vehicles, he noted.

“In the next two days, we’re going to be spending about P2.5 billion in fuel subsidies. We have planned four of those rounds of subsidies,” Marcos said.

Fewer trips

Around 40 percent of provincial bus operators have reduced their trips due to uncertainties in their fuel supply, Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines executive director Alex Yague told radio dzBB.

“Our tanks are not full. We are saving our fuel as much as possible,” Yague said.

Bus operations at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange have also declined, but a surge is expected on Holy Week.

Coding to be lifted

The expanded number coding scheme and provincial bus ban along EDSA will be suspended during the Holy Week, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III said the number coding scheme will be lifted starting April 1 and resume on April 6.

Provincial buses will be allowed to traverse parts of EDSA from April 1 to 9.

Around 2,476 MMDA personnel will be deployed to monitor transport hubs and pilgrimage areas, including the traditional panata route to Antipolo City for Visita Iglesia. –  Josiah Antonio, Andrew Ronquillo