CERES Bus Liner, operated by Vallacar Transit Inc. announced an increase in their bus fare starting on today .
“Gikan sa pamunoan sa Ceres Liner, kami nagpahibalo sa among pinangga og tinahod nga pasahero nga sugod karon adlaw na Byernes, petsa 14 sa bulan sa Sityembre, kami mopasaka sa among pletihan. Kini mahitungod sa pagpadayon pagsaka sa presyo sa krudo,” Branch Manager Engr. Jose Gilbert Polancos said in a memorandum.
(From the management of Ceres Liner, we are informing our valued passengers that starting this Friday, Sept. 14, we will implement an increase of fare. This is because of the continued oil price hike)
Ceres Operations Manager Rene Vecinal said only air conditioned Ceres bus units bound for the south will charge an additional P5 on top of the existing fare.
The fare in the regular Ceres bus units will remain the same.
“Air condition lang kay mas taas-taas og kuha sa fuel unlike sa non-aircondition,” Vercinal said.
They will still give the 20 percent discount for Persons with Disabilities (PWD), senior citizens and students.
“We appeal nga makasabot sila sa among fare increase. Kana among fare increase para makahatag mi og maayong serbisyo,” Vercinal said.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB – 7) Director Eduardo “Ed” Montealto Jr. said he did not receive a petition from Vallacar Transit Inc. for the fare increase.
“We didn’t receive from them a petition requesting for an increase of fare rates,” he said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.
Montealto said that there is a procedure to be followed before a fare increase can be implemented.
“No. That’s not automatic. There is a quite long process. First is to have a consultative meeting from all of the stakeholders primarily the riding sector,” he said.
If they will ask for a higher fare, Montealto said the company could face a complaint for overcharging, which carries a P5,000 fine, impoundment or suspension or cancellation of their franchise.
Vercinal, for his part, said they already complied the guidelines set by LTFRB last year.
Jeepneys
Meanwhile, the Basak Lapu-Lapu City Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, Inc., (BALACJODA) also plans to ask LTFRB for a provisional fare increase of at least P2 for all public utility jeepney (PUJs) and tricycles in Cebu on Monday.
Metudio Belarmino Jr., spokesperson of Cebu Labor Coalition (Celac), expressed hope that the board would consider their request.
He said jeep and tricycle drivers are suffering from the surge of fuel prices, spare parts and basic commodities and the worsening traffic situation.
“Atong gipaningkamotan ron nga madali ug matagaan og alibyo ang mga drivers kada adlaw. Naa pay grabeng traffic sa syudad, unsa naman lang kitaon sa mga drivers?” he said.
(We are working hard to ease the burden of drivers everyday).