CITRASCO to file amended fare hike petition today

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO) will file today its amended fare hike petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) -7.

"We will file the petition tomorrow and we will be asking P1 fare increase for the minimum fare," said CITRASCO general manager Ryan Benjamin Yu yesterday.  CITRASCO’s previous petition proposed a fare surge of P1.50 on top of the P6.50 minimum fare from 7:00 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

However, during the public hearing held the other day, several commuters opposed this kind of scheme as it may cause confusion among drivers and commuters.

This developed as the other fare hike petitioner, the Basak Lapu-Lapu City Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association Inc. - National Confederation of Transportworkers Union –Visayas, may be refiling its petition for P1.50 fare surge (7 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and another P1.50 hike in the minimum fare, after LTFRB-7 did not allow its petition to be heard for failure to notify the Office of the Solicitor General about their petition.

However, according to Romeo Armamento, vice president of a newly-formed federation, the Cebu Public Transportworkers Federation, they may instead ask LTFRB to reinstate the 2008 minimum fare of P8.00 for the first five kilometers.

LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said there may be another public hearing on the amended petition of CITRASCO. (FREEMAN)