By Kit Bagaipo - Bohol Chronicle
A leading transportation bus company in the province is cutting down its daily trips as a new round of increase on the prices of diesel and kerosene took effect yesterday.
Meanwhile, starting tomorrow jeepney and multicab drivers can collect the P8 new minimum fare.
Diesel and kerosene, both increased by P1.50, has dealt another blow to public utility transport especially buses that are yet to be granted a fare increase by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The LTFRB approved on Friday the new P8 minimum fare for Central Visayas.
In an interview with the Chronicle, LTFRB regional director Romulo Bernardes said jeepney and multicab drivers must get the new fare matrix from their office before implementing the P8 fare.
"No matrix, no increase," he said. The fare matrix will cost P510.
It may be recalled that fares for multicabs and jeepneys increased by 50-centavos last May 21 from P6 to P6.50 and later increased to P7 last June 30.
According to Bernardes, the 20 percent discount for students still apply.
In the new fare rate, there will be an additional 90-centavos for the succeeding kilometers, Bernardes added.
Meanwhile, St. Jude Bus Company, Bohol's biggest public utility bus line that serves the three major routes in the province bared that the soaring prices of fuel and goods have brought down the number of passengers.
According to an employee of St. Jude, several bus routes have been reduced as four to five buses of their company do not take trips from Monday to Thursday.
Meanwhile, the increasing number of vans-for-hire (V-hire) has also affected operations of bus companies.
There are some 23 bus firms in the province while the number of V-Hire has risen to over 3,300 units.
Bernardes said most bus companies have not increased their fare to the approved P8.50 for the first five kilometers and the additional P1.40 for every succeeding kilometer.
Instead, passenger buses are collecting a much lower rate, according to Bernardes.
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