Cebu transport groups may ask for fare hike

CEBU — Transport groups in Cebu are contemplating filing another petition for a fare increase.

Jaime Moncada, president of the Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Drayber Operator Alang sa Reporma (ANDAR), said yesterday the fare adjustment they will demand will depend on the total aggregate amount of fuel price hikes and rollbacks since the start of the year.

"Taud-taud na nga wala mi mangayo ug increase sa pletehan samtang ang palaliton sigi ug increase. Amo-a sa obserbaran kun stable na ba ning presyo karon usa mo file ug fare hike petition (It’s been a while since the last fare hike but prices of commodities have gone up many times. We will observe if the prices are stable before we file for a petition for increase)," Moncada said.

ANDAR, together with the Southern Cebu Operators and Drivers Association Inc., had earlier filed for a P1 fare hike for jeepneys but this was disapproved by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Oil prices in the country increased by 40 centavos per liter last Nov. 2 as a result of the rising cost of crude oil in the world market.

Fernando Martinez, president of the New Petroleum Players Association of the Philippines, said yesterday that there is always the possibility of another round of fare adjustments but this is too early to predict.

He cited that there was a $3 increase per barrel for crude and gasoline products for the month of October. This, he said, was supposed to translate to a 75-centavo-per-liter hike, but only a 40-centavo increase per liter was approved. — Freeman News Service