There was no opposition from stakeholders present on the public hearing conducted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory on the proposed increase of fare rates of public utility vans plying the Bacolod-Silay airport route and vice versa yesterday in Bacolod City.

The petitioners are drivers, operators, and members of the Bacolod-Silay Paliparan Association of Transport Operators, Bacolod-Silay Airport United Transport Association Inc., New Bacolod-Silay Airport Transport Operators Association Inc., and Silay Airport Van Operators and Drivers Association, and 22 other individuals.

LTFRB 6 regional director Romulo Bernardes, yesterday said the petitioners are asking for a reasonable fare increase from P52 to P150 for public utility vans plying the route.

Bernardes said however, that though there was no direct opposition from the stakeholders, the LTFRB cannot decide on the merits of the case because the agency’s central office decides on the validity of the petition.

He also required those present in the hearing to submit a consolidated position paper to LTFRB 6 within 10 days for it to be included in the documents to be submitted to the central office for evaluation and deliberation.

The petition includes the proposed increase of fare rates for coupon transport in Negros Occidental, he said.

Coupon transports are public utility vehicles that ply the Bacolod-Silay airport to other points of destination in the province.

CJ Occeña, a resident of Bacolod City who was present at the hearing yesterday, said she is in favor of the proposed rates of the PUV operators as long as they deliver convenient and satisfactory service.

Occeña said P150 is not much, especially if passengers are brought to their destination without taking another ride.

The operators also do not ask for additional charges for baggage, she added.

Stella Alayon, representing the senior citizens group of Bacolod, said that the rates are reasonable as long as drivers will not forget to give discounts to the elderly.

She also emphasized that the 20 percent discount for senior citizens must cover only the elderly and does not include their companions who do not belong to the age bracket.

Enrique Villarosa, president of NBSATOAI, said this is the first time for utility vans to request for a fare increase.

Villarosa said the current rate of P52 per passenger gives them a little income. Their van has a capacity of seven to eight passengers and that gives them about P416, P400 of which pays for the fuel consumption, he said.

They only have P16 left and they only get two trips per day because there are many utility vans at the airport while passengers are relatively few, Villarosa also said.

“With this computation, our income is already in deficit because we still have to pay our parking fees and other legal fees, including the concessionary payment to the Civil Aviation Association of the Philippines,” Villarosa said.

He also said, that he hopes the LTFRB central office will give a just and fair decision on their petition.

Bernardes meanwhile, reminded the petitioners not to implement their proposed rates until they are approved because If they do, they will be charged with overpricing. *LTG

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