CEBU – Commuters in the province of Cebu can now heave a sigh of relief as the group of bus and mini bus operators in the province agreed not to raise the fare just yet.
Members of the Cebu Provincial Bus and Mini Bus Operators Cooperative (CPBMBOC) said they have decided to maintain the current bus and mini bus fare rates of P5 for the first five kilometers and P1 for each succeeding kilometers.
The fare implemented by bus operators is lower than what the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved, which was P8.50 for the first five kilometers and P1.45 for each succeeding kilometer.
Bus and mini bus operators in Cebu are forced to collect lower fares due to stiff competition.
However, CPBMBOC chairman Julieto Flores said bus and mini bus operators may be forced to raise the fare if diesel prices will reach P37 per liter. Diesel price is currently at P34 per liter.
“We have decided during our meeting to keep a status quo because the increase in diesel price is still manageable,” Flores said. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)