Bus operators in Metro want P5 minimum fare

Metro bus operators plan to ask the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to reconsider the new fare rates, saying they were not consulted about it as agreed upon in a meeting last July.

Cesar Apolinario, president of the Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), said the LTFRB has to temporarily stop the implementation of the new fare rates pending a reevaluation.

"The new rates do not jive with the present cost of operating and maintaining a public utility vehicle. The Board has to adjust it further, he maintained.

IMBOA is planning to file another petition with the LTFRB to seek a P5 minimum fare.

The minimum fare of jeepney and ordinary buses was raised last Oct. 9 from P3 to P4 for the first five kilometers. For every succeeding kilometer, 63 and 87 centavos - up by 10 centavos - are added to jeepney and ordinary bus fares respectively.

Apolinario said the Board did not honor its commitment to consult the Technical Working Group (TWG) formed by Transportation Secretary Vicente Rivera Jr. in July before effecting any fare adjustment.

"The LTFRB is morally obligated to consult us about fares. It should have not have arbitrarily increased the fares, he added.

TWG was formed during a meeting called by Rivera to appeal to the transport groups to suspend their plans to file petitions for fare hikes. IMBOA, along with other transport organization is a member of the group.

"We were expecting to be consulted about the fare increase but this did not happen. We thought that the TWG was formed to come up with a unified fare structure and to discuss other problems confronting the transport industry," he said.

Apolinario added they did not want to burden the public about higher fares but the rising prices of fuel and spare parts warrant another adjustment.