‘No fare hike yet, but we want rollback’

CEBU CITY — Two transport groups in Cebu said they would not demand for fare increases yet but pressed for a rollback of oil prices which the three major oil companies raised by 50 centavos last Saturday.

Officials of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu (Nadsu) and the Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Driver-Operator Alang sa Reporma (Andar), however, said they may be compelled to launch a transport strike and other forms of protest if oil price increases continue.

Nadsu’s members ply 20 routes in this city, while Andar covers 13 routes.

Last Saturday’s oil price hike was the second this year. On March 20, fuel prices were raised by an average of 35 centavos per liter. Another round of increases is expected by the end of the month.

Nadsu spokesman Alex Hugo assured commuters that they will not increase transport fares in the meantime. "We still have to assess how the recent oil price hike will affect all of us," he said.

Andar chairman Jaime Moncada echoed the same position. — Freeman News Service