Provincial bus fare cuts eyed

INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines—Deliberations are underway for the reduction of public utility bus (PUB) fares nationwide.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Thursday announced that it will be hearing a fare cut petition for PUBs by at least 50 centavos for the first five kilometers, and by at least 10 centavos for every succeeding kilometer.

The hearing will be conducted on Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. at the LTFRB’s main office.

The board will hear the petition filed last week by former LTFRB member and Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel M. Iway seeking for the reduction of bus fares for both regular and air-conditioned buses plying Metro Manila and the provinces.

In his petition, Iway requested that fares for the first five kilometers in Metro Manila be cut from P10 to P8 for regular buses and from P12 to P10 for air-conditioned buses and fares for every succeeding kilometer be reduced from P1.85 to P1.50 for regular buses and from P2.20 to P1.80 for air-conditioned services.

For provincial buses, Iway suggested a 50-centavo reduction of fares for the first five kilometers, from P8.50 to P8, and a reduction of the fare rate for every succeeding kilometer, from P1.35 to P1.25, for ordinary buses.