Transport Groups Ask P2 Fare Hike

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) has confirmed the petition filed by Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multipurpose Cooperative (CITRASCO) asking a P2.00 Public Utility Jeepney(PUJ) fare increase in Cebu.

LTRFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon on Tuesday said that his office had already indorsed CITRASCO’ petition to their LTFRB Central office in Manila. The petition prays for a P10.00 minimum fare for the first 5 kilometers traveling distance.

Increase in Transport Consumables

In a radio interview, CITRASCO Chairman Ryan Benjamin Yu said the continuous increase of prices of transport consumables such as battery, tires, and spare parts are the primary basis for their filing of the said petition.

He said that the present P8 minimum fare is not enough to cope their daily maintenance which prodded them to ask for an additional of P2 increase.

Yu, who also heads Cebu Confederation of Transport Operators and Drivers Association, Inc. (CCTODAI) in Cebu city, explained that the P2.00 fare increase that they have requested is enough to cover overall expenses of their operation.

Meanwhile, Cuizon said that his office was just waiting for the green light signal from their head office in Manila to conduct a public hearing regarding the said petition, so that all concerned sectors especially the commuters could also air their sides.

But he said that there might be a possibility that a public hearing could only be conducted in Manila office, which will consolidate all fare hike petitions coming from the different provinces of the country.