DOTC exec: Provincial bus operators reprimanded over surprise fare hike

The provincial bus operators who imposed a "surprise" fare hike Monday will be reprimanded, an official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Tuesday. DOTC spokesman Undersecretry Dante Velasco said the fare hike was understandable due to rising fuel costs but the bus firms made a mistake by not formally asking for a fare hike. Velasco said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Nelson Laluces reprimanded the bus operators over the surprise fare hike. "Totoong tumaas ang presyo ng langis since March 2009. Pinayagan na pero pinagalitan ni Laluces," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (The price of oil really went up since March 2009. They were allowed to raise fares but they were reprimanded by Laluces.) "Napagusapan na ang LTFRB magbibigay ng reprimand sa bus operators na huwag naman ganyan (It was agreed the LTFRB will give the bus operators a reprimand)," he added. He said the provincial bus operators had been allowed to raise fares in 2008 but the operators did not do so. It was only this week that they availed of that provisional authority to raise fares, he said. Velasco said the bus operators should have at least informed the LTFRB. "Dapat ... nag-file ng motion na ibabalik sa dating rate. Pinagusapan namin ni Laluces, nag-agree si Laluces na ang bus operators dadaan sana sa tamang proseso (The bus operators should have filed a motion to go back to the old higher rates. Laluces and I discussed the matter and he agreed that bus operators should have followed procedures)," he said. When asked if the fare increase will be allowed to push through, he said, "kung tutuusin naman dapat matagal na (if you look at it, it's overdue)." Not off the hook However, LTFRB spokeswoman Sonia del Mundo also indicated the bus operators are still not off the hook as they will be asked to explain their actions. She also noted some of the bus firms even charged below the minimum fare just to attract passengers. "Tama ang pagbalik sa tamang pamasahe dahil yan ang standard... pero ang unang pagbaba nila na-set ang minimum, bumaba sila sa minimum yan ang mali, that is cutthroat competition and that is not allowed," Del Mundo said in an interview on dzBB radio. (While availing of their provisional authority in 2008 only now because of fuel costs is understandable, the practice of charging below the minimum fare is cutthroat competition and that is not allowed.) "Nasanay ang tao sa mababang singil tapos tinama, feeling ng tao tumaas. Dapat man lang may notice sa amin at mag-file ng petition for fare adjustment," she added. (People had gotten used to the low fares so they feel that the fare 'correction' now is an unwarranted fare hike. What the bus firms should have done is file a notice with us and filed a petition for a fare adjustment.) Del Mundo said the LTFRB will give the bus firms "due process" and allow them to air their side. "Bibigyan sila ng show-cause order at tatawagin sila (We'll give them show-cause orders and summon them to explain their actions)," she said. – VVP, GMA News