Transport groups urged to back fare rate cut petition

THE leader of the minibus operators plying the southern Cebu route called on other transport groups in the province to roll back their fares.

Julito Flores, Cebu South Minibus Operators Association (CSMBOA) president, said that bus operators shouldn’t just concern themselves with filing petitions for fare increases whenever there is an increase of  oil prices in the market.

“They should also file a petition for fare reduction for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Whenever oil companies announce price hikes in their commodities, Flores said bus operators are quick to ask for a fare increase.

Another oil price rollback was implemented by companies yesterday, with the cost of diesel dropping to its lowest at P1.45 to P1.50 per liter.

Based on the Department of Energy’s oil monitor, diesel prices are now at P19.28 to P23.10 per liter with an average price of P20.50 per liter.

Gasoline varies from P33.30 to P40.65 per litter or an average price of P38.10 per liter.

“When they ask for a fare hike, they would always point to the increase in oil prices as the reason. This time, since it went down, I don’t see any reason why we can’t ask for fare reduction,” Flores said.

Flores said provincial bus and mini bus operators associations have long reduced their fares. However, he said they have no plans for further rollbacks yet.

“Right now, we charge one peso per kilometer which hasn’t really been approved by the LTFRB yet. But it’s approved in principle among bus operators. This rate is already very low,” he said.

He called on Ryan Yu, president of the Cebu Integrated Transport Cooperative (CITRASCO), to initiate the filing of a petition for a fare rollback in the province.

Flores said it would be better if representatives of consumer groups initiate the filing of a petition for a fare rate reduction as well.

“This is so we can have a win-win solution,” Flores said.