Gov’t OKs bus fares cut in storm-hit Mindanao cities

MANILA, Philippines—The government has approved the reduction in bus fares in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan to help Mindanao residents recover from the disaster caused by Tropical Storm “Sendong”.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Monday released an order to cut fares in the Northern Mindanao region.

The order was based on a petition by bus company Rural Transit (Mindanao) Inc., which applied for the voluntary reduction for the key CDO-Iligan corridor and other outlying routes.

“The Petition for Fare reduction, as alleged, was grounded mainly on humanitarian and charitable consideration caused by super killer storm Sendong in the Cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan leaving thousand dead and homeless,” the LTFRB said.

“The horrendous death toll and unfathomable destruction of property bespeaks the gravity of victims’ affliction to date,” the order said.

Fares for air-conditioned buses plying the CDO-Iligan route will be cut to P85, down by 45 percent from the current P145. Fares for ordinary buses will be lower also by 41 percent to P70 per passenger from the current P120.

The LTFRB said while it was conscious of the rights of public transport operators to make a profit from the services they provide, the interest of commuters would be the bigger priority.

“The action undertaken by this Board in view of the effect of the disaster to the Filipinos living in the affected areas in Mindanao is in pursuance of this first consideration,” said the decision, signed unanimously by LTFRB members’ Manuel Iway, Samuel Garcia and Chairman Jaime Jacob.

The reduction in fares was opposed by Super 5 bus company owned by a certain Paul Padayhag.

But the LTFRB said it could not refuse any voluntary assistance that could help mitigate the impact of the disaster.

“While efforts of the government to alleviate the plight of those affected by the [Sendong] through rehabilitation and reconstruction measures are ongoing, assistance from civic groups and other private entities, in whatever form, are of great importance,” the regulator said.

Iway said the reduction in CDO fares would not affect ongoing discussions on a possible fare hike for the rest of the country amid rising fuel prices. He said the regulator would come out with a decision this week.