Cebu drivers seek P2.50 hike in fare

CEBU CITY, Philippines—After jeepney operators raised the rental of units to cope with higher prices of spare parts, tires and batteries, Cebu’s biggest transport group has asked the government to increase the minimum jeepney fare by P2.50.

Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative Inc. (Citrasco) filed a petition in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas last week, seeking to increase the fare from P7.50 to P10 for the first 5 kilometers.

Ryan Yu, Citrasco managing director, said the operators decided to increase the unit rental after maintenance costs had gone up. He noted that the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office would no longer allow dilapidated jeepneys to ply the streets.

R.J. Mercader, manager of a store selling spare parts in Mandaue City, said prices of spare parts had increased by at least 15 percent since 2011 when the LTFRB pegged the minimum fare of jeepneys at P7.50.

Tires now cost P5,000 each, from P3,000 three years ago, Mercader said.

To keep the drivers’ take home pay, Yu said the fare should be adjusted.

Ahmed Cuizon, LTFRB regional director, said he had forwarded Citrasco’s petition to the agency’s central office.

If the petition is consolidated with those filed by transport groups in other provinces, the public hearing may be conducted in Manila, Cuizon said. Carine M. Asutilla, Inquirer Visayas