Bus fare hike in Central Visayas takes effect April 1

THE MINIMUM fare for buses and mini buses in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas will be P9 starting April 1 this year, according to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Regional Director Eduardo C. Montealto, Jr. The current minimum fare is P6. Julieto Flores, spokesperson of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association and president of Mini-bus Operators Transport Cooperative, reminded operators that the new fare could only be implemented if a new fare matrix is posted within the vehicle. The CPBOA and Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association filed a joint fare hike petition last year and asked for a P4 increase — from P6 to P10 — for the first five kilometers, and another .30 centavos — from P1.20 to P1.50 — for every succeeding kilometer. In January, however, they deferred the petition following the series of fuel price reduction in December 2018. — The Freeman